Patent Publication Number: US-6699162-B2

Title: Exercise apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of exercise equipment, and more particularly to an exercise apparatus to be used in conjunction with a resilient exercise ball. 
     Exercise devices of many Kinds have been developed over the years to help people tone, strengthen and stretch various parts of the body. 
     To this end, exercise equipment has been designed that helps a person get into positions that facilitate the flexing of particular body parts. More recently the use of resilient balls have been marketed to exercise enthusiasts where the user is advised to incorporate the ball into various stretching and strengthening exercise routines. These balls tend to be about twenty four inches in diameter and are inflated and made of a resilient vinyl material. To use the ball, the user places a part of his or her body over the ball and performs a stretching or contracting activity. 
     Although the existing exercise balls have proven to be beneficial to those who wish to stretch and tone various body parts, there are certain deficiencies that can occur when using an exercise ball without additional support. First, when a person does an exercise that requires that he or she roll their back or front on the ball in a forward and backward manner, there is a tendency to roll off the ball if the user is not careful. 
     Additionally, there are some exercises that can not be properly practiced on a ball without the aid of a foot or hand retaining bar to help the user hold their hands or feet in an ideal position while exercising with the ball. Without an additional apparatus that can be used in conjunction with the exercise ball, many beneficial exercises can not be performed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the invention is To provide an exercise apparatus that can be used in conjunction with a resilient ball to allow the user to do a plurality of stretch and compression exercises. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise apparatus that has an adjustable frame that allows the user to perform a variety of exercises. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise apparatus that folds down flat for easy storage and shipping. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an exercise apparatus that guides a resilient ball in a linear direction. 
     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. 
     An exercise apparatus comprising: a base plate, a pair of opposed flanges extending perpendicularly from the end and side of said base plate, each said flange having a an aperture that receives a pin that acts as a shaft, an inverted U shaped frame, the ends of said U shaped frame being connected to said shaft pins so that said U shaped frame can rotate about said shaft pins, a plurality of radially spaced apertures in each said flange, a single aperture in each said inverted U shaped frame that aligns with said radially spaced apertures, a pair of connecting pins to retain said inverted U shaped frame to said flanges in a fixed position with respect to said base plate, a foot retaining assembly slidibly mounted in a horizontal manner with respect to the base of said inverted U shaped frame, said foot retaining assembly comprised of a plurality of foot retaining bars attached at each end to a side plate, said side plate having a frame retaining connector, said retaining connector having an aperture that can align with one of a plurality of spaced apertures located in each leg of said inverted U shaped frame, a pair of retaining pins that can fix said foot retaining assembly higher or lower along said inverted U shaped frame, and said foot retaining bars being adjustable to allow for different sized feet. 
     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. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 us a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of the present invention 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a person performing a modified sit-up using the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a person performing a rolling leg bend using the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a person performing a leg lift using the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a person performing a back strengthening exercise using the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment 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. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of the present invention  100 . Base plate  2  sits firmly on a floor Flanges  10 ,  11  extend in a perpendicular fashion at the far end edges of base plate  2 . An inverted U shaped frame is comprised of two legs  20 ,  22  and cross bar  24 . The free ends of legs  20 ,  24  are pinned at shaft points  12 ,  14  so that the inverted U shaped frame can rotate. The frame legs are held in one of a plurality of positions by removable replaceable pins  16 ,  18  as they interact with apertures  40 ,  8  located in the flanges  10 ,  11  Foot and hand rest assembly  200  is comprised of a plurality of horizontally disposed bars  32 , 34 ,  36  removably attached to side plates  30 ,  31 . Slidable sleeve  50  is fixedly attached to side plate  30  and a similar sleeve  51  is attached to outside of side plate  31 . Retaining pins  28 ,  29  can be removed to slide foot and hand assembly  200  down or up and then replaced to hold assembly  200  in a fixed position. Guide rails  4 ,  6  are attached to flanges  10 ,  11  at one end and to the front of base plate  2  at the opposite end. The spacing of the guide rails  4 ,  6  is such that they slidably retain a resilient exercise ball as will be shown in the following Figures. Guide rails  4 ,  6  can be removed once the user becomes proficient in using the present invention. Foot retaining bar  34  can be moved in or out by loosening knobs  60 ,  61  and sliding bar  34  along slits in side plates  30 ,  31  thereby allowing for different sized feet. Dotted line  90  indicates how the inverted U frame  22 ,  24 ,  20  can fold down for compact storage and shipping. 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a person  300  performing a modified sit-up using the present invention  100 . The user&#39;s feet are retained by bar  34  in assembly  200 . Dotted line  301  shows the user in the downward position. Ball  400  is steadied and retained by guide rails  4 .  6 . In this way, by taking advantage of the present invention  100 , the user can have his or her feet in an ideal position while performing sit-ups using resilient ball  400 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a person  300  performing a leg bend while having his back resting on resilient ball  400 . The user bends his legs as shown in dotted line  301  and causes ball  400  to roll forward and backward in the process. Guide rails  4 ,  6  keep the ball  400  moving in a linear fashion. 
     FIG. 4 shows a person  300 , 301  performing a leg lift using The present invention  100 . In this case the user has positioned frame  22  in a forward position and is using bar  34  as a hand grasping means. 
     FIG. 5 shows a person  300 , 301  performing a back strengthening exercise using the present invention  100 . Notice that the foot rest assembly  200  has been positioned towards the bottom of frame  22 ,  24 ,  20  so that the user&#39;s feet and legs are in an ideal position being parallel to the floor. 
     Obviously, many more exercises can be accommodated when using the present invention  100  in other configurations. The above descriptions and illustrations show that the present invention provides an ideal complement to the inflated resilient exercise balls that are now on the market. The present invention can be folded flat for easy storage and is economical to manufacture. 
     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.