Patent Publication Number: US-4927135-A

Title: Exercise apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, comprising a two-piece plane provided with a linkage for folding the pieces of the plane to an angle relative to each other. Such exercise apparatus further includes means for locking the plane in an upright position, for supporting the plane as a horizontal plane and for supporting the plane as an inclined plane. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The above type of exercise apparatus is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,539 in the name of the present inventor. 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 vertical plane for bringing the exercise apparatus into a variety of functional positions. This prior solution set forth in the patent cited above is advantageous provided that there are no restrictions set, for example, by room height. In low-ceilinged premises like basements, due to the installation of a fixed linkage above the floor, the length of a two-piece plane cannot be made functionally sufficient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide an exercise apparatus, which is particularly suitable for low-ceilinged premises, for example, basement rooms, and whose exercise planes are sufficiently long even though room height may induce restrictions. In addition, an exercise apparatus of the invention has certain extra features compared to the prior art, and is an advantageous exercise apparatus. 
     In order to achieve this object, an exercise apparatus of the invention includes a fixed linkage in the lower section of an exercise apparatus which is adapted for mounting on a fixed base, such as a floor. The linkage of the two-piece plane is provided with locking means and the upper section of the exercise apparatus carries an extending member adapted to serve as a support pedestal. 
     This solution provides an exercise apparatus, the functional length of whose two-piece plane begins immediately 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 exercises, such as in a horizontal plane and in an inclined plane, whereby the latter, due to a possibility of locking the linkage, can even be set in at least two angular positions. The extending member in the upper section of the exercise apparatus serves as a support pedestal in all lowered positions of the exercise apparatus in a manner that the outermost portion of such extending member supports itself against the floor. 
     The invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings; 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 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, for example, as a table top or for dorsal muscle workouts, 
     FIG. 3 is another perspective view of an exercise apparatus in its third position, which is at the same time a first position for using the exercise apparatus as an inclined plane, and 
     FIG. 4 is also a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in a fourth position, which is a second position for using the exercise apparatus as an inclined plane which, similarly to the position of FIG. 3, is intended for abdominal muscle workouts. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     As shown in the drawings, the exercise apparatus of the present invention 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 shown in FIG. 1, the exercise apparatus provides so-called ladder rungs P and the additional feature for use 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 horizontal 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 linkage 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&#34; in metal plates 6&#39;, 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 comprises locking pins 7&#39;, which are mounted on the extensions of the longitudinal stringers 9a, 9b of a lower, first plane section 1 and which are on 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 the upper plane section 2 whenever the plane sections 1, 2 are parallel to each other. Thus, locking pins 7&#39; can be inserted in holes 8 by manipulating a locking means operating button 7&#34;. 
     A fixed linkage 4 comprises two cross-sectionally U-shaped plates 4&#39;, between which are fitted the bottom parts of stringers 9a and 9b of lower plane section 1. Turning of the first plane section in the plane proceeds around horizontal pins 4&#34; fitted between members 4&#39; and 9a (respectively 4&#39; and 9b). Plates 4&#39; are fastened either to wall S and/or to floor L. 
     In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the 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&#34; in metal plates 11&#39; 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, the 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 member 5 in an inclined plane that can be used for abdominal 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 in a flat position, shown in 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 distance of a fulcrum T in the pairs of stringers from the surface of upper plane section 2 corresponds to the distance between linkages 3 and 4. 
     The top plate 13 of upper plane section 2 is a two-piece element, the lower piece 13&#39; being removable for alternative 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.