Patent Publication Number: US-2017354839-A1

Title: Exercise Apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The subject matter described herein relates to systems, apparatuses and methods for exercise and physical therapy. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Exercise and physical therapy regimens may include stretching, body weight training and training using weights or other specialized equipment. Physical therapists, trainers and the like at times need to prescribe exercises that strengthen or rehab very particular muscles. Specialized exercise apparatuses and methods can be useful in such situations. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exercise apparatus is disclosed. Some implementations may include a base, a hand grip mounted substantially perpendicular to the base, and a floor interface configured to facilitate movement of the exercise apparatus relative to the floor. In various implementations, the floor interface may be the bottom of the base or may comprise a plurality of casters, a non-rolling friction interface, a plastic plate, and the like. 
     In some implementations, the hand grip may include a knob on top and/or a hole configured for receiving an elastic band. 
     In other implementations, the base may include openings configured to receive the fingers of a user&#39;s hands. 
     In still further implementations, the apparatus may also include a plurality of pegs and a heel stop mounted to the base in an arrangement suitable for receiving a user&#39;s ankle and foot. At least one of the pegs may be adjustable in a manner allowing for the receiving of different sized ankles, and the heel stop may include a hole configured for receiving an elastic band. 
     In one implementation, the base may comprise a top plate and a bottom plate removably fastenable to one another to allow for the easy exchange of various floor interfaces. 
     The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. While certain features of the currently disclosed subject matter are described for illustrative purposes in relation to particular implementations, it should be readily understood that such features are not intended to be limiting. The claims that follow this disclosure are intended to define the scope of the protected subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. In the drawings, 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a simplified view of an exemplary exercise apparatus in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is a diagram illustrating a user using a knob to grip an exemplary exercise apparatus in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is a diagram illustrating a user using a grip to grip an exemplary exercise apparatus in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a simplified view of an exemplary exercise apparatus in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a simplified view of a user using an exemplary exercise apparatus in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a simplified view of an exemplary exercise apparatus in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  is a diagram illustrating a simplified view of a top plate of an exemplary exercise apparatus in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  is a diagram illustrating a simplified view of a bottom plate of an exemplary exercise apparatus with a rolling interface in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6C  is a diagram illustrating a simplified view of a bottom plate of an exemplary exercise apparatus with a friction interface in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exercise apparatus  100  including a base  102 , a hand grip  104  mounted substantially perpendicular to the base, and a floor interface configured to facilitate movement of the exercise apparatus relative to the floor. In this exemplary implementation, the floor interface is represented by casters  110 . Hand grip  104  may optionally include a knob  118 . Apparatus  100  may also include at least two pegs  106  and a heel stop  108  mounted to base  102  in an arrangement suitable for receiving a user&#39;s ankle and foot respectively. At least one of pegs  106  may be adjustable within a slot  112  to better fit the user&#39;s ankle. Base  102  may also include two openings  114  configured to receive the fingers of a user&#39;s hands. Optionally, hand grip  104  and/or heel stop  108  may include a hole  116  configured for receiving an elastic band. 
     Hand grip  104  is preferably mounted perpendicular to base  102 . However, hand grip  104  may be mounted substantially perpendicular to the base (substantially meaning that the hand grip is mounted at an angle greater than 75 degrees and up to and including 90 degrees from base  102 ). The present disclosure also contemplates an implementation of apparatus  100  wherein hand grip  104  is mounted at an angle between 30 degrees and 75 degrees from base  102 . 
     Hand grip  104  is preferably designed in a manner that makes it easy and comfortable for a user to grasp and, in one implementation, hand grip  104  is approximately five to seven inches tall to provide enough space for a user with large hands, and to provide a beneficial height for particular exercises. 
     In one implementation, a knob  118  may be included on top of hand grip  104  to allow for an alternative grip on apparatus  100  that facilitates improved stretching of the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles. For example,  FIG. 2A  illustrates a user  202  using knob  118  to grip apparatus  100 , as opposed to using grip  104 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . User  202  may also place his or her hand flat on base  102  for a variation on the exercises shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2A . This type of exercise is most easily performed when apparatus  100  is in the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , where the pegs  106  and heel stop  108  are removed (apparatus  100  may optionally not include pegs  106  and heel stop  108 , or these parts may be designed to be conveniently removably connected to base  102  such that they can be removed from apparatus  100  and replaced). It is also possible for a user  202  to use apparatus  100  while lying on his or her back, preferably grasping hand grip  104  rather than knob  118  (as shown in  FIG. 2B , not  FIG. 2A ). 
     In some implementations, base  102  of exercise apparatus  100  may include a pair of openings configured to receive the fingers of a user&#39;s hands. This configuration can be used for a further variety of exercises when the floor interface provides spacing between base  102  and the floor (for instance, when the floor interface comprises casters  110 ). 
     Hand grip  104  may also include a hole  116  for receiving an elastic band. An elastic band may be threaded through hole  116  when it is configured with a diameter wide enough to allow a standard elastic band to pass through, but small enough to prevent a knot in the band from passing through. The other end of the elastic band may be fixed to a nearby substructure and apparatus  100  may then be used for exercises requiring additional resistance. 
     In yet another configuration and use of apparatus  100 , free weights may be positioned on base  102 , over hand grip  104 , for an alternative method of adding resistance to exercises. Such a use of apparatus  100  is facilitated when the apparatus is in the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , but without a knob  118 . 
     As noted above, apparatus  100  includes a floor interface configured to facilitate movement of the exercise apparatus relative to the floor. Exercise or therapy with apparatus  100  requires a user  202  to move the apparatus with respect to the floor. In this vein, one implementation of apparatus  100  may include a floor interface that comprises a plurality of casters  110  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). While casters are depicted in this implementation, the present disclosure contemplates that any other devices enabling a rolling interface may be used in their place. Rolling interfaces can be beneficial with floor surfaces on which it would be difficult to move the apparatus due to a high friction coefficient. 
     In another implementation, the floor interface may be a non-rolling, friction interface. As one example, the non-rolling friction interface maybe a plastic plate that may be affixed to the base, the plastic plate preferably having rounded or beveled edges to facilitate smooth movement over the floor. The type of plastic chosen for this exemplary non-rolling floor interface may be chosen for its particular friction characteristics. It is contemplated that a variety of friction floor interfaces may be utilized, having varying friction coefficients between the interface and the floor surface on which the exercise apparatus is used. Such non-rolling, friction interfaces may be beneficial when apparatus  100  is being used on carpeting. It is also contemplated that the floor interface may merely be the bottom of base  102  and, in such an implementation, would be another instance of a non-rolling, friction interface. 
     Exercise apparatus  100  may be made without a hand grip, or may be made in a manner where hand grip  104  is removably mounted to the base. For example, hand grip  104  may be removably mounted by means of a fastener extending from hand grip  104  through opening  302  shown in  FIG. 3 , to be tightened with a wingnut from below. In a preferred embodiment, opening  302  contains a receptacle, which may receive an extension from the bottom of hand grip  104  that removably locks into place within the receptacle. 
     As noted above, apparatus  100  may contain at least two pegs  106  and a heel stop  108  mounted to the base in an arrangement suitable for receiving the ankle and foot of user  202 . In this configuration, apparatus  100  may be used for exercises as shown in  FIG. 4 . In such a configuration, base  102  may include a nonslip surface to further prevent slipping of the ankle and foot of user  202 . 
     In one implementation, at least one of pegs  106  is adjustable in a manner allowing for the receiving of different sized ankles. As an example, a peg  106  may be able to slide within a slot  112  and be fixed at a location providing a snug fit around the ankle of user  202 . 
     In some implementations, heel stop  108  may include a hole  116  for receiving an elastic band for resistance exercises, in the manner described above with respect to hole  116  in hand grip  104 . 
     In another implementation of the present disclosure, shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B , and  6 C, apparatus  100  may include a base having a top plate  602  and a bottom plate  604  removably fastenable to one another. Such an implementation allows for easy conversion of apparatus  100 , for example, by allowing a quick change of the floor interface, which is part of bottom plate  604 . In the example of  FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C , top plate  602  is removably fastenable to bottom plate  604  shown in either  FIG. 6B  or  FIG. 6C . With this configuration, apparatus  100  may be converted from a rolling interface (e.g., casters  110  shown in  FIG. 6B ) to a friction interface, shown in  FIG. 6C . Such implementations may include fasteners having a top plate fastener portion  606  and a bottom plate fastener portion  608 . Any type of fastener allowing for the top plate and bottom plate to be removably fastened to one another is contemplated. The two plates maybe clamped together, screwed together, etc. In one implementation, top plate  602  includes a top plate fastener portion  606  having a bore configured to receive a peg-shaped bottom plate fastener portion  608 . The top plate fastener portion  606  and bottom plate fastener portion  608  may be configured so that they are removably locked together when fully engaged, for example, by having a ridge on a bottom plate fastener portion  608  that is peg shaped, and a corresponding feature in top plate fastener portion  606  that will catch on the ridge—resulting in the plates being locked together, but separable with the application of a moderate force. 
     It should be noted that while the implementations of the present disclosure depicted in the drawings include a circular shaped base  102 , a circular shaped top plate  602  and a circular shaped bottom plate  604 , it is contemplated that base  102  and plates  602  and  604  may take on any variety of shapes and need not be circular. 
     In the implementations of the present disclosure including a top plate  602  and bottom plate  604  removably fastenable to one another, each of the additional features discussed throughout this disclosure may be implemented on such an apparatus  100 . For example, the various floor interfaces including casters and non-rolling friction interfaces such as plastic plates may be used with respect to bottom plate  604 . Top plate  602  and bottom plate  604  may include openings configured to receive the fingers of a user  202 &#39;s hands. Top plate  602  may include a hand grip, and may include at least two pegs and a heel stop, etc. 
     In yet another implementation, apparatus  100  may be converted from having a rolling floor interface to having a non-rolling friction interface simply by removing the rolling interface. For example, in the case where the rolling interface is a plurality of casters  110 , the casters may be mounted in a manner to facilitate easy removal. In one implementation, instead of mounting casters  110  to base  102  with screws, casters  110  may have pegs extending that, when inserted into the base, will lock into place (similar to the implementation described for connecting top plate  602  and bottom plate  604  with respect to  FIG. 6 ). 
     In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as “at least one of” or “one or more of” may occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term “and/or” may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it used, such a phrase is intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any of the recited elements or features in combination with any of the other recited elements or features. For example, the phrases “at least one of A and B;” “one or more of A and B;” and “A and/or B” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similar interpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C;” “one or more of A, B, and C;” and “A, B, and/or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.” Use of the term “based on,” above and in the claims is intended to mean, “based at least in part on,” such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible. 
     The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. The implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations of further features noted above. Furthermore, above described advantages are not intended to limit the application of any issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the advantages. 
     Additionally, section headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically, and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” such claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called technical field. Further, the description of a technology in the “Background” is not to be construed as an admission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” to be considered as a characterization of the invention(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference to this disclosure in general or use of the word “invention” in the singular is not intended to imply any limitation on the scope of the claims set forth below. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby.