Patent Publication Number: US-8523745-B1

Title: Exercise methods and apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Disclosed herein is subject matter that is entitled to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/281,018, filed Nov. 12, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to exercise methods and apparatus for exercising muscles of the human body. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide improved exercise methods and apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a person lies supine on a floor surface with her knees bent and her feet resting on a foot supporting portion of an exercise assembly. The person uses her hands to grasp respective left and right handles on the exercise assembly proximate her left and right hips. The person positions her abdomen beneath a strap secured in series with at least one resistance device. The person moves her pelvis off the support surface subject to resistance from the resistance device(s). 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is an exercise assembly having a frame configured to rest on an underlying floor surface, wherein the frame includes at least one foot support sized and configured to accommodate a person&#39;s left and right feet when the person is lying supine on the floor surface with her knees bent. Left and right handles are mounted on the frame within reach of a person&#39;s left and right hands, respectively, when the person is resting her feet on the at least one foot support while lying supine on the floor surface with her knees bent. Left and right resistance devices are mounted on the frame, and a strap is configured to overlie a person&#39;s lower abdomen when the person is resting her left and right feet on the at least one foot support while lying supine on the floor surface with her knees bent. The strap has a left end connected to the left resistance device and a right end connected to the right resistance device. 
     Various features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the more detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       With reference to the Figures of the Drawing, wherein like numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a person situated relative to an exercise assembly for exercise according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the person and the exercise assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a base member that is part of the exercise assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially sectioned front view of a resistance device that forms part of the exercise assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another partially sectioned front view of the resistance device of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a person performing an alternative exercise with just the base member of  FIG. 3  and two of the resistance devices of  FIGS. 4-5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a person performing an alternative exercise with just two of the resistance devices of  FIGS. 4-5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectioned end view of a first end of an alternative embodiment base member with an alternative embodiment resistance device mounted thereon; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectioned perspective view of an opposite, second end portion of the alternative embodiment base bar of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic top view of an alternative embodiment exercise assembly constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment exercise assembly constructed according to the principles of the present invention is designated as  100  in  FIGS. 1-2 . The exercise assembly  100  may be described in terms of a base member  200 , a foot supporting member  300  releasably connected to the base member  200 , left and right handles  400  releasably connected to the base member  200 , left and right resistance devices  600  releasably connected to the base member  200 , and a strap  500  releasably interconnected between the resistance devices  600 . 
     The base member  200  is shown by itself in  FIG. 3 . The base member  200  includes a flat bar  210  that is preferably stamped from a sheet of steel. Left and right handle supports  240  are secured to respective left and right ends of the bar  210 . Each handle support  240  is preferably an L-shaped segment of steel tubing that is welded onto the bar  210 . Each handle  400  preferably includes an L-shaped segment  420  of steel tubing having a first end that telescopes into a respective handle support  240 , and an opposite, second end that is fitted with a hand grip. Left and right snap buttons  440  or other suitable fasteners occupy aligned holes in respective handles  400  and handle supports  240  to releasably and adjustably secure the former relative to the latter. 
     Left and right support brackets  460  are rigidly mounted on respective handle supports  240 . Each support bracket  460  is preferably a flat bar that is preferably bent into an L-shaped configuration. Left and right support straps  260  are secured to respective left and right ends of the bar  210 , preferably by means of rivets through respective intermediate portions thereof. Each support strap  260  includes a first end that is connected to buckle  262 , and a distal second end. As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the support straps  260  cooperate with respective support brackets  460  to releasably secure respective resistance devices  600  to respective ends of the bar  210 . Hook and loop fasteners on the distal end of the strap  260  and an intermediate segment of the strap  260  cooperate to snugly secure the resistance devices  600  in place. 
     Left and right toe cups  280  are preferably secured to respective left and right segments of the bar  210 . Each toe cup  280  is preferably a conventional bicycle toe cup that is secured to the bar  210  by at least one screw. The toe cups  280  are not used during the exercise shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , but are useful for certain other types of exercise, as further discussed below with reference to  FIG. 6 , for example. 
     The foot supporting member  300  includes a foot platform  310  that is preferably stamped from a sheet of steel. Both the foot platform  310  and the base member bar  210  are preferably thirty inches long. Left and right J-shaped hooks  320  are secured to respective left and right end portions of the foot platform  310 . A longer end segment of each hook  320  has a distal end that is preferably welded onto a back edge of the foot platform  310 . A shorter end segment of each hook  320  cooperates with a respective longer segment to define a gap that is just wide enough to accommodate insertion of the base member bar  210 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As a result, the foot supporting member  300  is slidable onto the base member  200  to arrive at the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 4-5  show components of the resistance device  600 , which is similar in some respects, including certain aspects of construction, operation, and use, to the resistance devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,607 to Ihli and U.S. Pat. No. 7,087,001 to Ihli, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The resistance device  600  includes a flexible member or resistance cable  620  that is extracted from housing  692  when the extraction force exceeds an adjustable level of resistance, and that is rewound into the housing  692  when tension in the cable  620  falls below the rewind force exerted by a spring within the housing  692 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cable  620  is wound about a sheave  680 , which in turn, is mounted on a rotatable shaft  615  via a conventional one-way clutch bearing  685 . A hub  655  is rigidly secured to the shaft  615 , and a steel cylindrical cap  656  is rigidly mounted on the hub  655  to define a resistance drum. A stainless steel brake band  666  is secured about a portion of the cap  656  with a Kevlar brake strip sandwiched therebetween. The brake band  666  cooperates with the resistance drum to provide resistance to rotation of the shaft  615  in either direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a coiled rewind spring  690  is nested within a compartment defined by the sheave  680 . An inner end of the spring  690  is anchored to the housing  692  via a peg  608 , and an opposite, outer end of the spring  690  is anchored to the sheave  680  via a flange  682 . As a result, the spring  690  biases the sheave  680  to rotate in a first rotational direction relative to the shaft  615  and the housing  692 . The sheave  680  rotates together with the shaft  615  and relative to the housing  692  in an opposite, second rotational direction in response to extraction of the cable  620 . Thereafter, when the cable  620  is released, the rewind spring  690  rotates the sheave  680  relative to the shaft  615  to retract the cable  620  within the housing  692 . 
     A knob  630  is rotatably mounted on an end of the housing  692 , and rotates relative to the housing  692  to adjust the level of resistance associated with the resistance drum. The housing  692  includes a bracket or frame member  616  that is preferably a stamped metal part. The frame member  616  is preferably secured in place between opposing “halves” of the housing  692  by means of internal structure on the housing shells, as well as fasteners that secure the halves to one another. A first rivet or other suitable fastener secures a first end of the brake strip  665  to a first portion of the frame member  616 . A second rivet or other suitable fastener secures an opposite, second end of the brake strip  665  to a discrete, second portion of the frame member  616 . The second rivet also preferably secures an end of the tension band  666  to the second portion of the frame member  616 . 
     An opposite end of the tension band  666  is secured to a slide block  676  by means of a separate fastener, which is preferably a screw. The slide block  676  is threaded onto a bolt  677 , and the slide block  676  bears against the frame member  616  in a manner that prevents rotation while allowing linear travel of the former relative to the latter. The bolt  677  is rotatably mounted within upper and lower openings in the frame member  616 . An upper end of the bolt  677  is keyed to the knob  630 , and a lower end of the bolt  677  is rigidly fastened to a nut  678 . A thrust bearing is preferably disposed between the knob  630  and the frame member  616  to accommodate relative rotation therebetween. The foregoing elements cooperate to rotatably mount the bolt  677  in a specific position relative to the frame. A lower end of the frame member  616  is configured and arranged to limit downward travel of the slide block  676  along the bolt  677 . On an alternative embodiment, a pin or other suitable stop is preferably secured to a lower section of the bolt  677  to function as the stopping means. 
     When the knob  630  is rotated in a first direction, tension in the tension band  666  increases, and when the knob  630  is rotated in an opposite, second direction, tension in the tension band  666  decreases. In either case, tension in the brake material  665  remains relatively unaffected, while compression of the brake material  665  against the cap  656  increases or decreases in direct relation to the change in tension in the tension band  666 . On a working embodiment of the device  600 , the resulting resistance experienced by a user is smooth and predictable through a range of resistance from 2 to 40 pounds in response to less than two full rotations of the knob  630 . 
     A re-directional bearing assembly  640  is movably mounted on top of the housing  692 , and the cable  620  is routed through the re-directional bearing assembly  640  to accommodate extraction of the cable  620  in any direction having an upward component relative to the top of the housing  692 . Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the re-directional bearing  640  is located at one of six available “corner locations” on the housing  692 , and furthermore, that it need not occupy an orthogonal or parallel orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the adjustment bolt  677 . 
     A bead or stop  624  is secured to an external portion of the cable  620 , and the bead  614  is too large to fit through the opening defined by the re-directional bearing assembly  640 , thereby preventing the distal end of the cable  620  from becoming lost inside the housing  692 . A carabineer clip  622  is connected to an outer distal end of the cable  620  to releasably connect the cable  620  to any of various force receiving members, including the handle shown in FIG. 11 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,087,001, for example. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the strap  500  is interconnected between the flexible members  620  emanating from respective left and right resistance devices  600 . In this regard, each carabineer  622  is connected to a respective ring on the strap  500 .  FIG. 1  shows the person P in a ready position, lying supine on an underlying floor surface with her knees bent and her feet F on the foot platform  310 , her hands H on the handles  400 , and the strap  500  extending across her lower abdomen.  FIG. 2  shows the person P in an exerted position, having decreased the angle defined between her chest and upper legs by moving her hips upward against resistance provided by the resistance devices  600 . As the person moves back and forth from the positions shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , she uses her hands H and her feet F to stabilize the assembly  100 , thereby providing reactionary force to the tension experienced by the flexible members  620 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a person P exercising with an embodiment of the present invention that includes the base member  200  and the resistance devices  600 , but not the strap  500 . The person&#39;s left and right feet F are situated in respective toe cups  260  on the base member  200 , and the person&#39;s left and right hands are grasping respective left and right handles  90 , which are secured to respective resistance devices  600  via respective flexible members  620  and respective carabineers  622 . As suggested by the pose shown in  FIG. 6 , this arrangement accommodates a row-type exercise. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , two resistance devices  600  may alternatively be connected to one another at respective attachment members  612 . When held in respective hands H of a person Q and arranged as shown in  FIG. 22 , the resistance devices  600  may be used to perform various upper body exercises. 
       FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment resistance device  800  releasably mounted on an alternative embodiment base member bar  820 , and  FIG. 9  shows a portion of the base member bar  820  by itself. The resistance device  800  provides resistance in the same manner as the resistance device  600  described with reference to  FIGS. 4-5 . Among other things, the resistance device  800  includes a housing  892  that defines notches at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00. At least the notches at 3:00 and 9:00 are interrupted by respective steel pins  898  that cooperate with the main body of the housing  892  to define strap receiving slots. A strap  808  is selectively inserted through each slot and secured to itself via hook and loop type fasteners. The strap  808  accommodates usage of the resistance device  800  as shown in  FIG. 7  with reference to the resistance devices  600 . 
     An adjustment knob  830  is located at a corner of the housing  892 , to one side of the 12:00 notch, and a re-directional bearing  840  is located at a corner of the housing  892 , to an opposite side of the 12:00 notch. A flexible member or cable  820  extends from a distal end, disposed outside the housing  892 , through the re-directional bearing  840 , to an opposite end portion, wrapped about a sheave. A rewind spring is interconnected between the sheave and the housing  892  to encourage the flexible member  820  to wind onto the sheave. On the resistance device  800 , a band brake arrangement resists removal of the flexible member  820  from the sheave. On other embodiments, different types of resistance arrangements may be used in the alternative. 
       FIG. 9  shows one end of the alternative embodiment base member with the understanding that an opposite end is a mirror image thereof. A handle support  844  is rigidly secured to an end of the base member bar  820 . The handle support  844  is preferably a steel tube that is welded to the base member bar  820 . A receptacle  822  is rigidly secured to an end of the base member bar  820 , inward from the handle support  844 . 
     The receptacle  822  preferably includes a C-shaped frame member  824  and a somewhat similarly shaped latch member  826 . The frame member  824  is preferably a flat steel bar that has been formed into the desired configuration, and welded in place onto the base member bar  820 . A lower end of the frame member  824  is bifurcated or pronged for reasons discussed below. The latch member  826  is preferably an injection molded plastic part that fits into the frame member  824 , and that is preferably secured in place by at least one screw. The latch member  826  defines an inwardly facing periphery that matches an external periphery defined by the resistance device housing  892 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the resistance device  800  nested inside the receptacle  822  and ready for use as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  7 , for example. The resistance device  800  is moved into this arrangement by feeding the top of the housing  892  into the top of the receptacle  822 , and then sliding the bottom of the housing  892  past a latch  828  on the receptacle  822 . The latch  828  is configured to snap into alignment with a complementary portion of the resistance device housing  892  as the resistance device housing  892  arrives at the position shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The latch  828  may be described as an integrally formed leaf spring on a lower end of the latch member  826 . In order to remove the resistance device housing  892  from the receptacle  822 , the latch  828  must be deflected downward between the pronged ends of the frame member  824 . This arrangement facilitates convenient connection of the resistance device  800  to the base member bar  820 , and convenient removal of the resistance device  800  from the base member bar  820 . Moreover, the housing  892  is preferably configured to accommodate reorientation of the resistance device  800  relative to the receptacle  822  when the strap  808  is removed from the housing  892 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an alternative embodiment exercise assembly  700  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The exercise assembly  700  may be described in terms of a frame  760  having an integral foot supporting member  730 , left and right handles  740  mounted on the frame  760 , a resistance device  790  mounted on the frame  760 , and a strap  750  interconnected between first and second flexible members  792  and  793  emanating from the resistance device  790 . 
     The frame  760  may be described as a U-shaped member that is preferably stamped from a sheet of steel. The resistance device  790  is secured in place at a central location on the U-shaped member  760 . A pulley guide  711  is mounted on the frame  760 , proximate one side of the resistance device  790 , to re-route a flexible member  792  emanating from the resistance device  790 . A second flexible member  793  emanates from the resistance device  790  proximate the pulley guide  711 . 
     The resistance device  790  is functionally similar to the isokinetic resistance devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,740 to Loubert et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the resistance device shown in  FIG. 4-5  may be modified, as suggested by Loubert et al., to include a second flexible member, second sheave, second one-way clutch bearing, and second rewind spring, and used in place of the resistance device  790  on the embodiment  700  to create an alternative embodiment. Moreover, two of the Loubert et al. resistance devices may be modified, as suggested by this disclosure, to eliminate a respective flexible member, a respective sheave, a respective one-way clutch bearing, and a respective rewind spring, and used in place of respective resistance devices  600  on the preferred embodiment  100  to create another alternative embodiment. 
     The foot supporting member  730  is defined by the base of the U-shaped member  760 , which is flat and relatively wide and deep. The distal end portions  762  and  763  of the U-shaped member  760  are relatively thinner and shorter than the base, and they extend from respective ends of the base to distal ends. A left handle  740  is mounted on the distal end of the left end portion  762 , and a right handle  740  is mounted on the distal end of the right end portion  763 . Each handle  740  is preferably welded in place and extends vertically upward from a respective end portion  762  or  763 . 
     A left pulley guide  712  is secured in place on the distal end of the left end portion  762 , and a right pulley guide  713  is secured in place on the distal end of the right end portion  763 . The flexible member  792  is routed from the resistance device  790 , about the pulley guide  711 , about the pulley guide  712 , to a distal end that is secured to a left end of the strap  750 . The flexible member  793  is routed from the resistance device  790 , about the pulley guide  713 , to a distal end that is secured to an opposite, right end of the strap  750 . 
     A person uses the exercise assembly  700  in the same manner as the exercise assembly  100  described above. Contrary to the resistance devices  600 , the resistance device  790  provides resistance as a function of how much force is applied to the flexible members  792  and  793 . As noted above, persons skilled in the art will recognize that additional embodiments may be made by using left and right, single cable versions of the resistance device  790 , or by using a dual cable version of the resistance devices  600 , or by using altogether different types and/or numbers of resistance devices. 
     Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the subject present invention may be described in terms of methods with reference to the foregoing embodiments. For example, the present invention may be described in terms of a method of performing exercise using an exercise assembly. One such method is performed by lying supine on a floor surface with one&#39;s knees bent and one&#39;s feet resting on a foot supporting portion of the exercise assembly; using one&#39;s left and right hands to grasp respective left and right handles disposed on respective left and right sides of the exercise assembly proximate one&#39;s left and right hips; positioning one&#39;s abdomen beneath a strap secured in series with at least one resistance device; and moving one&#39;s pelvis off the support surface subject to resistance from each said resistance device. 
     Recognizing that this disclosure will enable persons skilled in the art to derive various alternative embodiments and applications, the scope of the subject invention should be limited only to the extent of the claims set forth below.