Patent Publication Number: US-8979720-B2

Title: Strength and balance exercise apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present inventions relate to exercise devices for use by a person to strengthen and rehabilitate muscles and to improve stamina and balance. In particular, the present inventions relate to an exercise device of the type in which the user grasps hand grips and manipulates portions of the device against the resistance of double-acting hydraulic cylinders while maintaining balance in a standing position. 
     Many specialized exercise devices exist, however none have effectively utilized the full potential of stressing various muscles in different directions throughout movement while requiring the user to maintain balance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS 
     However, the present inventions provide for stressing in different directions which allows the user to dictate the specific muscle group exercised and at what rate. Using double-acting hydraulic cylinders to provide resistance, gives the user the advantages of variable resistance and variable speed of movement. Providing for use of the hands to grasp hand grips on two independent resisting portions of the apparatus thereby creates the stabilizing effect of the opposing muscles groups which will create and improve balance. 
     In the exercise apparatus of the present inventions, muscle groups are not pitted against forces generated by springs, rubber bands, weights and the like. Instead, the apparatus utilizes devices which create forces which primarily resist movement, and the resistance is increased with speed of movement. 
     As used herein, the words “comprise,” “have,” “include,” and all grammatical variations thereof are each intended to have an open, non-limiting meaning that does not exclude additional elements or steps. As used herein, “movement resisting means” refers to a device that applies a force only during movement of an object. As used herein, the term “arm” is used to refer to an elongated rigid member having no particular size or shape. Also as used herein, the term “piston” is intended to refer to an object located in a chamber containing fluid and is of no particular shape or size and is not required to include seals, packing, cups or the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification to illustrate at least one embodiment and example of the present inventions. Together with the written description, the drawings serve to explain the principals of the inventions. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating at least one preferred example of at least one embodiment of the inventions and are not to be construed as limiting the inventions to only the illustrated and described example or examples. The various advantages and features of the various embodiments of the present inventions will be apparent from a consideration of the drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the Strength and Balance Exercise Apparatus of the present inventions; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial, enlarged perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 , looking in the direction of the arrows; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  illustrating an alternative embodiment of the Strength and Balance Exercise Apparatus of the present inventions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a Strength and Balance Exercise Apparatus which for purposes of description is generally identified by reference numeral  10 . The exercise apparatus  10  generally comprises three subparts, a base  20  and a pair of arms  40  and  60  for use in exercising. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the base  20  comprises a horizontal surface  22  on which the user  24  stands and a pair of arm mounting bases  26  and  28 . In this particular embodiment, the horizontal surface  22  is formed by a rectangular metallic plate. The arm mounting bases  26  and  28  are formed by a plurality of metallic beams which are welded to the edge of the rectangular metallic plate. It is envisioned of course that the arm mounting bases  26  and  20  could be anchored to the floor, eliminating the need for a rectangular metallic plate and allowing the floor itself to act as a horizontal surface  22  on which the user  24  stands when using the apparatus. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , each of the exercise arms  40  and  60  comprises an elongated rigid member with handgrips  42  and  62 , respectively, for grasping by the user  24 . As will be explained in more detail, the arms  40  and  60  are movably connected to the arm mounting bases  26  and  28 , respectively, such that the arms can be moved in the any direction. In other words, each of the exercise arms  40  and  60  can be moved forward, backward and side-to-side while being grasped by the handgrips  42  and  62 . It should be appreciated that the handgrips  42  and  62  need not be configured as such that they are parallel to are aligned with the connection of the arms  40  and  60  to the base. Alternatively, it is envisioned that these handgrips could extend transversely to the length of the arms  40  and  60 . Also, as will be hereinafter explained in more detail, movement resisting means in the form of three double-acting hydraulic cylinders  80  are pivotally attached between each of the arms and the base to provide resistance forces opposing movement and manipulation of the arms by user. 
     The telescoping hydraulic cylinders  80  can comprise two-way fluid resistive cylinders, such as, standard motorcycle racing shock absorbers. The shocks can provide some incidental spring force but must primarily apply forces only to resist movement. Alternatively, they can be of the type described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,787 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. These hydraulic cylinders comprise a body having a cavity of chamber containing fluid and a piston reciprocally mounted in the chamber. The fluid can be, for example, hydraulic oil, silicone or the like. The piston is turn connects to a rod which telescopes into and out of the hydraulic cylinder with relative movement between the body and rod. Internal openings or passageways in the hydraulic cylinder allow fluids to flow by or through the piston or to be pumped around the piston to provide resistance as the cylinder telescopes and un-telescopes. The basic principle of its operation is to use the piston&#39;s relative movement to flow fluids through an opening, orifice, passageway or the like to provide a passive resistance against telescoping and un-telescoping the cylinder. In the patented &#39;787 embodiment, flow and the resistance can be adjusted. Telescoping hydraulic cylinders are passive structural elements, in the sense that they do not apply forces to the exercise arms, and only resist (apply a force opposing) any telescoping movement. Further, the amount of resistance applied by the hydraulic cylinder varies depending upon the speed or of telescoping movement. As the speed increases, the resisting force applied by the hydraulic cylinders increase. It is to be understood, of course, that even when the fluids in the chamber flow through an opening in the piston, fluid is being flowed and pumped. It is also envisioned that forces resisting movement could be created by moving other objects relative to a fluid, such as vanes or the like. Therefore, as the user increases the pivot speed of the arms, the amount of the resisting the force increases. As the user slows, the rate of pivoting the arms, the opposing or resisting force decreases. 
     To use the exercise apparatus  10 , the user stands on the horizontal surface  22  while grasping the handgrips  42  and  62  on the arms  40  and  60 . While maintaining balance, the user exercises by pulling and pushing the arms  40  and  60 . As the arms are moved, the hydraulic cylinders  80  are telescoped, providing resistance to it each arm&#39;s movement. As can be appreciated, to maintain balance opposing muscles in the upper body must be utilized as well as muscles in the core and lower torso. According to a particular feature of the exercise apparatus  10  of the present inventions, the arms  40  and  60  can be used in any direction, permitting exercise of a variety of muscle groups. By varying the speed of movement of the exercise, a resistance level can be increased or reduced. The directional and speed flexibility of the exercise apparatus  10  allows the user to dictate which specific angle a muscle group is being exercised and at what rate. By moving the arms  40  and  60  in a series of accelerations and decelerations, human body competition can be mimicked. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the typical connection of the arms  40  and  60  and cylinders  80  to the base  20  will be described in detail. The mounting for each of the arms  40  and  60  are identical. Functionally, arms  40  and  60  are pivotally connected to the base  20  so that the arms can be attributed in any direction. In the  FIG. 2  embodiment, arm  40  is connected by universal joint  100  to the base portion  26 . The universal joint  100  comprises a bifurcated portion  102  fixed to the lower end of the arm  40  and a second bifurcated portion  104  supported from the base  26  to extend upward therefrom. Idler block  106  is pivotally connected to each of the bifurcated portions  102  and  104 , by pivot shafts  103  and  105 , respectively. As illustrated, the lower bifurcated portion is  104  is supported above the base by a spacer  108 . In the preferred embodiment, spacers  108  elevate the bifurcated portions  104  and pivot shaft  105  a short distance above the surface on which the user stands. It is appreciated, of course, that the spacers  108  for each arm could be longer to elevate the bifurcated portions  104  and pivot shaft  105  substantially more. The universal joint  100  allows each arm to be moved back and forth and side to side by the user or, in other words, the arms can be moved in 360°. It is envisioned, of course, that other pivotal mountings could be used such as a ball joint wherein the arms  40  and  60  are connected to a ball enclosed in a socket attached to the base  20 . Or conversely, balls could be supported from the base and a socket attached to the end of each arm. In addition, it should be appreciated that the arms  40  and  60  could be adjustable in length to accommodate users of different heights. Similarly, the height of the spacers  108  could be adjustable to elevate or lower the arms  40  and  60  to a convenient user level. In  FIG. 5 , a spacer  108  is shown attached to base  26 , similar to  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, as noted above, the height of spacer  108  may be adjusted. Thus, in  FIG. 5 , spacer  108  includes a first portion  108 A and a second portion  108 B (which may be raised or lowered to achieve a different total height for spacer  108 , as would be understood by one of skill in the art in view of the disclosure above). In  FIG. 6 , arm  40  is shown as including a first portion  40 A and a second portion  40 B (which may be raised or lowered to achieve a different height for arm  40 , as would be understood by one of skill in the art in view of the disclosure above). In  FIGS. 7A and 7B , two arms  40  are shown as having different elevations H 1  and H 2  above base  26  at which respective arms  40  are coupled to a universal joint  100  (which may be as described relative to  FIG. 3  in this embodiment). 
     A typical mounting for the hydraulic cylinders  80  is illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . For purposes of description, the hydraulic cylinders  80  are divided into a cylinder portion  82  and a rod portion  84 . During use, the rod portion  84  telescopes into and out of the cylinder portion  82 , thus shortening and lengthening the cylinder  80  as shown by arrows T. The cylinder portion  82  contains a piston mounted to reciprocate in a chamber in the cylindrical portion, not shown. Typically, fluid is in the chamber. In the position illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the piston would typically be located midpoint the axial length of the cylinder, allowing hydraulic cylinder  80  to be telescoped inward and outward as the arms  40  moves. A ball joint assembly  86  is connected to the lower end of the cylinder portion  82 . The ball joint assembly is connected in to an upstanding member  88  fixed to base  26 . The ball joint assembly  86  allows the lower end of the piston to pivot with respect to the base  26 . 
     Each of the hydraulic cylinders  80  are pivotally connected between the base at  26  and arms  40  by ball joint assemblies. The cylinder portion  82  is provided with a seal (not shown) around the rod portion  84  to maintain the fluid in the chamber as the rod telescopes and un-telescopes. A ball joint assembly  90  is attached to the extending end of the rod portion  84 . The ball joint assembly  90  is, in turn, connected to a member  92  fixed to exercise arms  40  at a point spaced away from the bifurcated portion  102 . It will be appreciated that as the arm  40  pivots in the direction of the arrow P the hydraulic cylinder  80  will be forced to telescope and un-telescope and create a resistance against movement or pivoting of the arms  40 . As explained, when movement of the exercise arms  40  and  60  is halted, no forces are exerted on the arms by the hydraulic cylinders  80 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the strength and balance exercise apparatus is illustrated in  FIG. 4  and for purposes of description is generally identified by reference numeral  110 . In this particular embodiment, the base  112  is circular and provides a horizontal surface  122  for the user  24  to stand in the center portion of the base  112 . It is to be appreciated that the surface  122  is located between the exercise arm assemblies identified in  FIG. 4  by reference numerals  140  and  160 . Whereas the manipulation of the arms  40  and  60  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  was primarily to the front and side of the user  24 , in the  FIG. 4  embodiment with the user centered between the arms, manipulation of the arms  140  and  160  is expected to the front, sides and rear of the user. 
     Therefore, the present inventions are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative only, as the present inventions may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is, therefore, evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present inventions. 
     While structure and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods also can “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. 
     Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an”, as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.