Patent Publication Number: US-10765903-B2

Title: Apparatus for supporting and suspending a body part

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/341,568 filed Nov. 2, 2016, which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/750,132, filed Jun. 25, 2015, which application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/017,652, which was filed Jun. 26, 2014, entitled “EXERCISE SUSPENSION APPARATUS.” All applications identified above are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present disclosure involve exercise equipment, and, more particularly involve exercise equipment for stability training. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Exercise equipment may be designed with various aspects in mind to achieve a particular goal. For example, certain equipment may be designed to isolate and target specific muscle groups while other equipment may be designed to engage multiple muscle groups at the same time. One type of exercise equipment that is popular for rehabilitative purposes, among other purposes, is equipment with integrated instability. While just about any piece of exercise equipment requires a user to stabilize their body relative to the piece of equipment, exercise equipment with integrated instability adds an element of instability to the exercise that would otherwise not be present but for the added instability. Examples of instability training include any number of exercises using a yoga ball as a support (e.g., dumbbell press, sit-ups). In these situations, the yoga ball supports a user&#39;s upper body, but the ball is not in a fixed position. Rather, the ball is free to move around based on changes in the user&#39;s center of gravity. Thus, as the user moves his or her center of gravity relative to the yoga ball during the exercise, the user is forced to use stabilizing core muscles (e.g., abs) to counteract the center of gravity being offset from a central point of the yoga ball. The user benefits from the core muscle workout as well as from the original exercise (e.g., dumbbell press, sit-ups). 
     With these thoughts in mind, among others, aspects of the exercise suspension apparatus, disclosed herein, were conceived. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present disclosure involve an exercise suspension apparatus that includes a base member, a first and second tower member, a first and second pin member, and a strap configured to be coupled between the first and the second tower members. The base member includes a top surface and a bottom surface and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The first and second tower members extend upward from the top surface of the base member and the first tower member includes a first slot extending through a first width of the first tower member. The second tower member includes a second slot extending through a second width of the second tower member. The first and second pin members include a head portion and a neck portion extending from the head portion. The first pin member is removably secured within a first opening on a top portion of the first tower member and the second pin member is removably secured within a second opening on a top portion of the second tower member. The strap includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a plurality of through holes extending through the strap. The first end of the strap is configured to be deployed through the first slot and supported by the first tower member via the first pin member engaging with the first tower member and with one of the plurality of through holes. The second end of the strap is configured to be deployed through the second slot and supported by the second tower member via the second pin member engaging with the second tower member and with another one of the plurality of through holes. An amount of slack associated with the strap may be adjusted by engaging either the first pin member or the second pin member with differing through holes of the plurality of through holes extending through the strap. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure involve an exercise device including a base member, a first and second tower member, a first and second pin member, and a strap. The base member may include a top surface and a bottom surface and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The first and second tower members may extend upward from the top surface of the base member, the first tower member may include a first slot extending through a first width of the first tower member, the second tower member may include a second slot extending through a second width of the second tower member. Each pin member may include a head portion and a neck portion extending from the head portion, the first pin member may be removably secured within a first opening on a top portion of the first tower member, the second pin member may be removably secured within a second opening on a top portion of the second tower member. The strap may include a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a plurality of through holes extending through the strap, the first end of the strap may be configured to be inserted through the first slot and supported by the first tower member via the first pin member engaging with the first tower member and with one of the plurality of through holes, the second end of the strap may be configured to be inserted through the second slot and supported by the second tower member via the second pin member engaging with the second tower member and with another one of the plurality of through holes. An amount of slack associated with the strap may be adjusted by engaging either the first pin member or the second pin member with differing through holes of the plurality of through holes extending through the strap. 
     In certain embodiments, the first tower member may include a first plurality of spaced apart slots extending through the first width of the first tower member, the second tower member may include a second plurality of spaced apart slots extending through the second width of the second tower member. And, the height of the strap relative to the base member may be adjustable by positioning the first and second ends of the strap in different slots of the, respective, first and second pluralities of spaced apart slots. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure also involve an exercise device including a base member, a pair of tower members extending upward from the base member, and a strap. The base member may include a substantially planar bottom surface, a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and an opening extending through the top and bottom surfaces. The pair of tower members may extend upward from opposite ends of the top surface of the base member. The strap may be releasably secured to each of the pair of tower members at a chosen height and with a chosen amount of slack. The strap may include a support member positioned between a first end and a second end of the strap, wherein the chosen amount of slack of the strap is adjustable by coupling the strap to each of the pair of tower members at different positions on the strap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. 
         FIG. 1  is a top isometric view of a first embodiment of an exercise suspension apparatus with a user shown in broken line. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric front view of the exercise suspension apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric front view of the exercise suspension apparatus of  FIG. 1  with a pair of pin members removed from a pair of tower members. 
         FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of one of the tower members and a portion of a handle of the exercise suspension apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a strap member and the handle of the exercise suspension apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the strap member with a through-hole of the exercise suspension apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front isometric view of a second embodiment of an exercise suspension apparatus with telescoping tower members. 
         FIG. 8  is a front isometric view of the exercise suspension apparatus of  FIG. 7  illustrating adjustment of the telescoping tower members via a pin. 
         FIG. 9  is a side sectional view of one of the telescoping tower members and a portion of a handle member of the exercise suspension apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front isometric view of a third embodiment of an exercise suspension apparatus with a pair of pins removed from a pair of tower members. 
         FIG. 11  is a front isometric view of a fourth embodiment of an exercise suspension apparatus with an opening in the base member. 
         FIG. 12  is a front isometric view of a fifth embodiment of an exercise suspension apparatus with a strap configured for supporting a user&#39;s forearms or legs. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present disclosure involve an exercise suspension apparatus that integrates instability into an exercise (e.g., pushup). The instability requires a user to utilize stabilizing muscles that would otherwise not be utilized in the exercise. Reference is initially made to  FIG. 1 , which is a top isometric view of a user  10  performing an exercise (e.g., pushup) with an exercise suspension apparatus  12  of a first embodiment. As seen in the figure, the exercise suspension apparatus  12  includes a base member or platform  14  that includes a top surface  16  and a bottom surface  18 . The top and bottom surfaces  16 ,  18  of the base member  14  are generally flat, although some contour (e.g. arcuate surface) may be desirable in certain embodiments. The bottom surface  18  is configured to contact a surface such as a floor or gym mat  20  and is configured to support the weight of the rest of the exercise suspension apparatus  12  and the user&#39;s weight. The top surface  16  of the base member  14  is coupled with a pair of tower members  22  that extend upward and away from the top surface  16  of the base member  14 . In this embodiment, the tower members  22  extend generally perpendicularly from the base member  14 , although in other embodiments the tower members  22  may extend upward in other orientations relative to the base member  14 . For example, the tower members  22  may extend upwards at an angle (e.g., acute, obtuse) relative to the base member  14 . In the embodiments discussed herein, the tower members  22  may extend substantially perpendicularly upward from the base member  14 . In this and other embodiments, “substantially perpendicular” may be within about 5, 10, 15, or 20 degrees of perpendicular. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 1 , a strap  24  extends between the pair of tower members  22 . The strap  24  may include a support member or handle  26  that is free floating on the strap  24  or that is rigidly coupled with the strap  24 . As will be discussed later, the strap  24  is adjustable between the two tower members  22  such that an amount of slack can be increased or decreased. In this way, the user  10  may adjust the amount of instability (i.e., amount of slack) that is present for each particular exercise. In general, increasing the amount of slack in the strap  24  between the tower members  22  increases the amount of instability. For a relatively inexperienced user, for example, the user may desire a tauter or less slacked strap  24 . For a more experienced user, for example, the user may add more slack to the strap  24 , which increases the instability into the exercise. The strap  24  may be a long and generally narrow strip of pliant, bendable, or flexible material such as nylon webbing or similar material. 
     In certain embodiments, the base member  14  may be about ¼ inch thick. In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  may extend about 6 inches from the bottom of the base member  14 . In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  may extend about 6.5 inches from the bottom of the base member  14 . In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  may extend about 7 inches from the bottom of the base member  14 . In other embodiments, the tower members  22  may extend between about 5 inches and about 8 inches from the bottom of the base member  14 . In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  are spaced apart from each other about 7 inches. In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  are spaced apart from each other about 7.5 inches. In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  are spaced apart from each other about 8 inches. In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  are spaced apart from each other about 8.5 inches. In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  are spaced apart from each other about 9 inches. In certain embodiments, the tower members  22  may be spaced apart between about 7 inches and 9 inches. 
     Moving on, reference is now made to  FIGS. 2-6 , which are isometric front views of the exercise suspension apparatus of  FIG. 1 . In these views, the details of the exercise suspension apparatus  12  become evident. The tower members  22  each include slots  28  that extend through a width of the tower members  22 . The strap  24  includes ends  30  that may be inserted through the slots  28  and secured in place by placing a pin member  32  through an opening  34  in a top surface  36  of the tower members  22 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the pin member  32  includes a head portion  40  and a neck portion  42 . The neck portion  42  extends into the opening  34  of the tower member  22  and though one of a variety of through holes  38  in the strap  24 . The through holes  38  may be riveted through holes or another type of reinforced through hole. The through holes  38  may be spaced apart any desirable distance and may extend from the ends  30  to the handle  26  and, if the handle is free floating, the through holes  38  may extend the entire length of the strap  24  from end  30  to end  30 . In certain embodiments, the through holes  38  may be spaced-apart about ⅜ inch. In certain embodiments, the through holes  38  may be spaced-apart about ½ inch. Once seated in the tower member  22 , the pin member  32  may be removed by the user  10  grasping the head portion  40  of the pin member  32  and lifting upward to remove the neck portion from engagement with the through hole  38  and the opening  34  of the tower member  22 . 
     Regarding the slots  28  of the tower members  22 , the slots are vertically spaced apart such that a height of the straps  26  may be adjusted. It may be desirable in certain exercises to increase or decrease the height of the straps  26  to achieve a particular result with the exercise. In certain embodiments, the slots  28  are vertically spaced apart about 1 inch. In other embodiments, the slots  28  may be spaced apart about 0.5 inch, 1 inch, or 1.5 inches. 
     Although the adjustment of the height of the strap  24  is described by deploying the ends  30  of the strap  24  in slots  28  of different heights, other mechanisms are possible to adjust the height of the strap  24 . For example, and referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , which is a second embodiment of the exercise suspension apparatus  12 , the tower members  22  include an outer member  44  that is coupled to the base member  14 , an inner telescoping member  46  that vertically translates within the outer member  44 , and a weight pin  48  that sets the height of the strap  24 . The weight pin  48  is configured to extend through one of a series of height adjustment openings  50  in the outer member  44  and a single adjustment opening  52  in the inner telescoping member  46 , as seen in  FIG. 9 . Each of the openings  50 ,  52  extend through a width of its respective member such that the weight pin  48  may extend through an entire width of the tower member  22 . In operation, the user  10  may coaxially align the single adjustment opening  52  of the inner telescoping member  46  with one of the height adjustment openings  50  in the outer member  44 . The user  10  may then extend the weight pin  48  through the coaxially aligned openings  50 ,  52  to secure the strap  24  at a desired height. The same procedure can be used to adjust a height of the strap  24  on the other tower member  22 . 
     The second embodiment of the tower members  22  includes a single slot  28  on each tower member  28  since the height of the straps  24  can be adjusted via the inner telescoping member  46  relative to the outer member  44 . However, the second embodiment could include additional slots  28  to provide for even more height adjustment options. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the inner telescoping member  46  is depicted as being solid; however, the member may be tubular. 
     Moving on to a third embodiment of the exercise suspension apparatus  12 , reference is made to  FIG. 10 . As seen in the figure, the various elements of the exercise suspension apparatus  12  are similar to that of the first embodiment in  FIGS. 1-6 , however, the base member  14  is octagonal and the tower members  22  and the head portions  40  of the pin members  32  are square. While the shape of the tower members  22 , base member  14 , and pin members  32  are different, the function of the apparatus  12  is otherwise the same as in the other figures. Similarly, additional embodiments may include tower members  22 , base members  14 , and/or pin members  32  with oval cross-sections, among other geometric cross-sections. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 11 , which is a fourth embodiment of an exercise suspension apparatus  12 . As seen in the figure, the base member  14  includes a stadium-shaped opening  52  extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the base member  14 . The opening  52  of the base member  14  is defined by an inner edge  54  that matches a shape of an outer edge  50  of the base member  14 . The opening  52  is positioned generally at a midpoint between the tower members  22  and beneath the handle  26  such that a user&#39;s hand may extend further towards the base member  14  without coming into contact with the base member  14 . In this way, the handle  26  can be lowered further than it could otherwise be lowered if the opening  52  were not present. While the opening  52  is depicted as being stadium-shaped, other shaped openings are possible and contemplated herein. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 11 , the tower members  22  extend substantially perpendicularly upward from a top surface of the base member  14  and on opposite ends of the base member  14 . The tower members  22  each have an arcuate or rounded outer surface  56  that generally matches a curvature of the outer edge  50  of the base member  14  so that the outer surface and the outer edge  50  are generally coextensive. An inner surface  58  opposite the outer surface  56  is generally a generally flat surface, although a mirror image shape of the arcuate or rounded outer surface  56  is also possible. In either embodiment, the tower member  22  is thickest at a midsection, which is where the opening  34 , for receiving the pin  32 , atop the tower member  22  is located. As seen in  FIG. 11 , the tower member  22  is larger at its intersection with the base member  14  to counteract a bending moment of the tower member  22  when a force is applied to the handle  26 . This larger area  60  may an additional piece of material that is welded to the tower member or may simply be an enlarged portion of the tower member  22 . 
     In this embodiment, each of the tower members  22  includes three slots  28  for extending the end  30  of the strap  24  therethrough. To couple the strap  24  and the tower members  22 , the pins  32  may be positioned in the openings  34  atop the tower members  22  so as to be received within one of the through-holes  38  in the strap  24 . The pin  32  may lock in place, be threadably received within the opening  34 , or merely be held in place by gravity. As seen in the figure, the outer surface  56  of the tower members  22  partially extend into the opening  34  for the pin  32 . The purpose for this may be to easily see the pin  32 , stow the end of the strap  24 , or otherwise. In this embodiment, there are four through holes  38  extending through each end  30  of the strap  24 . There may, however, be a different number of through holes  38 . 
     Features of certain embodiments can be incorporated into other embodiments without limitation. For example, while only the fourth embodiment of the exercise suspension apparatus  12  includes the opening  52  in the base member  14 , any other embodiment may include a similar opening  52  in the base member  14 . 
     As far as the materials of construction, the base member  14 , tower members  22 , and pin members  32  may be made from a steel, aluminum, or suitable alloy to withstand the necessary forces associated with a user  10  performing an exercise with the apparatus  12 . Other materials are possible and may include plastics, carbon fibers, or any combination of materials. The strap  24  may be constructed of standard webbings made from nylon or polyester, for example. A width of the strap may be in a range of about 1 inch to about 2 inches and may include a length within a range of about 8 inch to about 18 inches. The strap  24  could be substituted with a rope or band and be similarly secured to the tower members  22 . A height of the tower members  22  may be about 6 inches to about 8 inches and the head portion  40  may sit about 1 inch to about 2 inches above a top of the tower members  22 . Regarding the tower members  22 , they may be spaced apart about 6 inches to about 8 inches. And, while the base member  14  is described with reference to multiple shapes, in general, the base member  14  may include a width of about 8 inches and a length of about 12 inches. 
     While the exercise suspension apparatus  12  is described as including a handle  26  configured to be grasped by a user&#39;s  10  hand, the apparatus  12  may also be used to support a user&#39;s  10  lower body. For instance, the apparatus  12  may be additionally, or by itself, be used to support a user&#39;s legs while performing an exercise (e.g., pushups). In this way, the user&#39;s  10  leg(s) will be suspended and the user  10  will be required to use additional stabilizing muscles to stabilize his or her lower body. In this particular use of the apparatus, a different handle  26  may be used that is tailored to comfortably support the user&#39;s  10  legs (e.g., padded support). For example, the handle  26  may include a large diameter foam pad (i.e., similar to a foam roller or “pool noodle”) for positioning the user&#39;s  10  legs or forearms. Additional embodiments may include a lateral adjustment for one or both tower members  22 . As such, the lateral distance between the tower members  22  may be adjusted to be closer or farther away as required for a particular exercise. This lateral adjustment may be helpful to adjust an angle of slack of the strap  24 . Such lateral adjustment can be accomplished by any number of methods. 
     The exercise suspension apparatus  12  described herein may additionally be used for planking with or without modification. Planking is a popular isometric core strength exercise that, in certain exercises, involves maintaining a push-up type position while supporting the weight of the user&#39;s upper body with the forearms (elbows bent at about 90 degrees) and supporting the weight of the user&#39;s lower body by the balls of the feet or the knees. In these types of planking exercise, the suspension apparatus  12  may be used to support the user&#39;s  10  forearms, instead the user&#39;s hands. When used for planking, among other exercises, the handle or support member  26  may be as shown in  FIG. 12 , which is an isometric view of the exercise suspension apparatus  12  with an elongated, flat pad  26  as the supporting surface for the user&#39;s forearms. As seen in the figure, the pad  26  is rectangular in shape, but may be stadium or pill shaped, as well. The pad  26  includes upper and lower pads that are stitched together along the long ends of the pad  26 . The stitching is open on the short ends of the pad  26  so as to create a passageway through the pad  26  for the strap  24  to extend through. The pad  26  may be made from a padded material such as neoprene or other similar materials. In certain embodiments, the pad  26  may include a length on the long end of about 4 inches. In certain embodiments, the pad  26  may include a length on the long end of about 4.5 inches. In certain embodiments, the pad  26  may include a length on the long end of about 5 inches. In certain embodiments, the pad  26  may include a width on the short end of about 3 inches. In certain embodiments, the pad  26  may include a width on the short end of about 3.5 inches. In certain embodiments, the pad  26  may include a width on the short end of about 4 inches. 
     Although various representative embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subject matter set forth in the specification. All directional references (e.g., top, bottom, front, back) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. 
     In methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.