Patent Publication Number: US-9409047-B2

Title: Exercise apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to exercise equipment and, in particular, to exercise equipment for providing resistance to the upper and lower body. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exercise equipment for providing resistance to the upper and lower body of a user are well known in the art. Such equipment generally includes a transportable component connected to a resistance means, wherein the user applies a force to the transportable component, thereby engaging the resistance means to provide resistance against the direction of the force applied by the user to the transportable component. Such resistance means typically take the form of a weight or weight stacks, and/or resistance cables or springs. Generally, resistance exercise equipment of the prior art variety is bulky and fails to support a range of resistance exercises, in particular exercises for providing bi-directional resistance to both the upper and lower body over a wide range of positions. What is needed is a portable exercise apparatus of simple construction and which overcomes at least the aforedescribed deficiencies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an exercise apparatus having a base. A platform is disposed on an upper surface of the base and attached to the base. The platform serves to support a user of the apparatus. An at least one elongated member is pivotally attached at its proximal end to each of the first and second ends of the base by a connector, and disposed in opposing relationship to form an at least one pair of opposing elongated members. An open loop resistance assembly is associated with each of the at least one pair of opposing elongated members. The resistance assembly functions to provide resistance against the direction of force applied by the user. A cable, operatively connected to the resistance assembly and slidingly engaged with the distal end of each elongated member of each of the at least one pair of opposing elongated members, functions to transmit the force applied by the user to the resistance assembly, thereby engaging the resistance assembly to provide resistance against the direction of the force applied by the user. 
     The foregoing embodiment of the present invention, and other embodiments, will become more fully apparent from a review of the description and claims which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is an alternate perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1A  wherein one of the planar supports of the platform is shown in an upright position. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1A  shown in a folded position. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a resistance assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a resistance assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention showing a user engaged in a leg workout. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention showing a user engaged in a neck workout. 
         FIG. 9B  is an alternate perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention showing a user engaged in a leg workout. 
         FIG. 10B  is alternate perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 10A  showing a user engaged in an arm workout. 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention showing a user engaged in an arm workout. 
         FIG. 11B  is an alternate perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 11A  showing a user engaged in an arm workout. 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention showing a user engaged in an arm workout. 
         FIG. 12B  is an alternate perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 12A  showing a user engaged in an arm workout. 
         FIG. 13A  is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention showing a user engaged in a leg workout. 
         FIG. 13B  is an alternate perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 13A  showing a user engaged in a leg workout. 
         FIG. 14A  is a top plan view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention showing a rowing assembly affixed to the platform. 
         FIG. 14B  is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 14A . 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     All terms used herein are used in accordance with their ordinary meanings unless the context or definition clearly indicates otherwise. Also, unless indicated otherwise except within the claims the use of “or” includes “and” and vice-versa. Non-limiting terms are not to be construed as limiting unless expressly stated or the context clearly indicates otherwise (for example, “including”, “having”, “characterized by” and “comprising” typically indicate “including without limitation”). Singular forms included in the claims such as “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless expressly stated or the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations of the preferred embodiments described below may also be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an exercise apparatus is shown generally at reference numeral  100 . The exercise apparatus  100  comprises a base  102  having an upper surface  104  and a lower surface (not shown), a first end  106  and a second end  108 . The ends  106  and  108  are disposed at opposite sides of the base  102 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the base  102  is quadrilateral in shape. A platform  110  is attached to the upper surface  104  of the base  102 . The platform  110  serves to support the frame of a user, for example, whether the user is sitting, laying or standing on the platform  110 . In an example embodiment, the platform  110  takes the form of a pair of planar supports  112 , wherein the planar supports  112  are of substantially similar shape and dimension and each planar support  112  is pivotally mounted at a medial point on the base  102  via an end of each planar support  112 , such that the planar supports  112  form a mirror image pair on the upper surface  104  of the base  102 . Persons of skill in the art will appreciate that the platform  110  can take on a number of different arrangements without materially affecting the operation of the apparatus  100 . For example, the planar supports  112  need not be of similar shape or dimension, mounted in mirror image relationship or medially positioned on the base  102 . Moreover, the platform  110  itself need not be divided into planar support portions, but rather can take the form of a single planar support. Further, the platform  110  can optionally be fused with the upper surface  104  of the base  102  or removably attached thereto. In  FIGS. 1B and 2 , one of the planar supports  112  is shown in a substantially upright position and held in place by a foldable support bar  114  which is pivotally attached to the bottom side of the planar support  112 . In  FIG. 4 , an end view of the apparatus  100  shows the support bar  114  in a use position propping up one of the planar supports  112 . In the embodiment described in this part, the support bar  114  could be positioned at any location on the bottom side of the planar support  112  so long as the planar support is capable of being properly supported by the support bar  114 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an at least one elongated member  200  is pivotally attached by a connector  202  at its proximal end to each of the first  106  and second ends  108  of the base  102 , such that the elongated members  200  are capable of pivoting outwardly along a first vertical plane from each end  106 ,  108  of the base  102  in opposing relationship with one another. In this way, each elongated member  200  on end  106  and its opposing elongated member  200  on end  108  form an opposing pair of elongated members (i.e. an elongated member pair). Optionally, the elongated members  200  of each opposing pair are positioned directly opposite one another on each side of the base  102 , but the elongated members  200  within each pair could also be offset in relation to one another without materially affecting the function of the apparatus  100 . In a preferred embodiment, two opposing elongated member pairs are positioned on each end  106 ,  108  and the elongated member pairs are spaced apart on each end  106 ,  108  such that the platform  110  fits between each elongated member pair. 
     With reference back to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , positioned at the distal end of each elongated member  200  is a pulley  204  for engaging an open loop resistance assembly (not shown) associated with each of the at least one elongated member pairs. The structure and function of the resistance assembly is explained elsewhere in this description. A cable  300  associated with each open loop resistance assembly extends around the pulleys  204  of each elongate member pair. The distal end of the elongated member  200  need not be equipped with a pulley  204 , however, in order to enable proper function of the apparatus, each cable  300  must be capable of easy movement about the distal end of the elongated member. An at least one engagement member  302  is removably attached to each cable  300 . Each engagement member  302  functions to enable a user to control the movement of each cable  300 . In an optional embodiment, each connector  202  includes a pulley  203  for receiving and supporting the cable  300  at the proximal end of each elongated member  200 . 
     Each of the at least one engagement members can take on a different form depending on the exercise to be performed by a user of the apparatus  100 . For example, where arm exercises are to be performed, each engagement member  302  can be in the form of a handle, whereas where leg exercises are to be performed, each engagement member  302  can take the form of an ankle brace. Multiple further variations of the engagement members  302  can be employed, (including, for example, a head support where neck exercises are to be performed) without departing from the scope of the invention. Two cables  300  must be used for each elongated member pair where the engagement member  302  is connected via two connection points between the cables  300 , however, a user can optionally disconnect one such cable  300  where the user desires to operate the apparatus in conjunction with a single elongated member of an elongated member pair (for example, in the case where the user is making use of the option rowing assembly (discussed in further detail below)). 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each connector  202  may be adapted for pivotal connection to each end  106 ,  108  of the base  102 , such that each connector  202 , and its associated elongated member  200 , can pivot along a second vertical plane, which vertical plane is perpendicular to the first vertical plane (previously described). In this way, full axial movement of each elongated member  200  may be achieved. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the apparatus  100  is shown in a folded position. In order to convert the apparatus  100  from a use position, wherein each elongated member  200  is partially or fully pivoted outwardly from the ends  106 ,  108 , to a folded position, a user can simply rotate each connector  202  and pivot the associated elongated members  200  inwardly in the direction of the base  102 . In a preferred embodiment, each connector  202  is capable of rotating approximately 180° about a vertical axis of the base  102 . In order to facilitate a compact folding of the apparatus  100  where one elongated member  200  of each pair is positioned on top of the other elongated member  200  of the elongated member pair in substantially parallel arrangement, the angle of rotation of each connector  202  may need to be adjusted by the user. When in a folded position, the apparatus  100  can be readily stored, for example, under a bed or in a closet. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 6 , an exploded view of a resistance assembly  400  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Each resistance assembly  400  functions to provide resistance in response to exercise movements performed by a user of the apparatus  100 , and at least one resistance assembly  400  is associated with each elongated member pair. In order to preserve the compact size of the apparatus  100 , it is preferable position each such resistance assembly  400  within the hollowed out underside of the base  102 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , each resistance assembly  400  is fixed to an inner sidewall of the base  102  on the underside of the upper surface  104  of the base. Each sidewall runs perpendicular to the ends  106 ,  108 . Further, in the  FIG. 7  embodiment, an aperture is disposed on each end  106 ,  108  of the base  102  for the purpose of accommodating the cable  300  (associated with each resistance assembly), which cable  300  runs in an open loop through the resistance assembly  400 , as further described below. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 6 , the components of the resistance assembly  400  are set out. The resistance assembly  400  is housed substantially between two support plates  402  and  416 . For the purpose of supporting bi-directional resistance training, each resistance assembly  400  is equipped with a pair of opposed resistance mechanisms, each of which cooperates with the cable  300  in an open loop system to enable a user to experience resistance whether the user applies a forward or backward force to the cable  300 . Within the resistance assembly  400 , the cable  300  is wound around two opposing cable spools  406 . A spring spool  408  is rotatably attached to each cable spool  406 , and optionally supported by a bearing  404  on each side thereof, and a torsion spring  410  is wound around each spring spool  408 , each spring  410  for imparting a yielding resistance on its associated flywheel  412 , axially connected to the spring spool and optionally supported by a bearing (not shown) on each side thereof, to move the flywheel  412  into a lock position when a force is applied to the cable  300 . Each spring  410  serves a cable winding and unwinding function only, while the force applied to the cable  300  is distributed to the flywheel  412  itself. On reaching a lock position, and upon further application of force to the cable  300 , an at least one gear  414 , connected to the flywheel  412 , is caused to rotate. Rotation of the at least one gear  414  engages a resistance element  418 , wherein the resistance element  418  is operative to supply a resistance in response to a force applied by a user on the cable  300 . Because the gears  414  on each side of the resistance assembly are operatively engaged with one another, each resistance assembly requires only a single resistance element  418 . An at least one securement member  420  associated with each spring  410  may be employed for the purpose of preventing unspooling of each spring  410  from its associated spool  408 . Each of the at least one securement members  420  is connected to the support plates  402  and  416 . 
     In operation, when a user applies (for example) a substantially backward force to the cable  300  via the at least one engagement member  302 , the cable  300  wound around the forward-most cable spool  406  will begin to unwind which in turn causes the associated flywheel  412  to rotate in the same direction as the rotation of the cable spool  406  and move the flywheel  412  into a lock position such that the rotation is transferred to the at least one associated gear  414 , whereupon the resistance element  418  is engaged. The cable  300  on the rearward-most cable spool  406  of the resistance assembly  400  will become wound around the cable spool  406  as a force from the associated compressed spring  410  is applied to the cable spool  406  and transmitted into the cable spool  406 , which in turn unlocks the associated flywheel  412  and disconnects the associated spring  410  and cable spool  406  from resistance element  418 . 
     The resistance assembly  400  of the present invention will function even where a sideways force is applied to the cable  300  such that the cable portions on both sides of the engagement member  302  will be unwound at once. In this case, if the force applied to cable portions on both sides of the engagement member  302  is equal, then both flywheels of the associated resistance assembly will lock and an equivalent resistance force will be applied to the cable portions on either side of the engagement member  302 . If the force applied to the cable portion on one side of the engagement member  302  is greater than on the other side, then the flywheel on the side having the greater applied force will lock and the resistance force will be applied to the cable on that side. Meanwhile, on the side having the lesser applied force, the cable on that side will be unwound at a slower rate and the flywheel on such side will remain unlocked. The form of resistance assembly described above enables a user to stop his or her exercise at any moment, without the need to park the engagement members  302  (this feature is particularly beneficial to users engaged in rehabilitation exercises, where such users&#39; joints are particularly vulnerable to sudden movement). Note that any suitable cable resistance assembly of equivalent function could be substituted for the resistance assembly described above without materially affecting operation of the apparatus. For example, the resistance assembly could be a computer controlled resistance means for enabling a user to engage in isontonic and/or isokinetic resistance exercises. 
       FIGS. 8 to 13B  illustrate a range of exercise positions which may be adopted by a user of the apparatus. In  FIG. 8 , the user is depicted face down on the planar supports  112  and engaged in a lower body exercise wherein the engagement members are positioned around the user&#39;s ankles. In  FIGS. 9A and 9B , an alternate form of engagement member is employed for attachment around the head of the user for the purpose of supporting an upper body neck exercise. In this exercise, the user is seated in an upright position as the planar support behind the user&#39;s back is supported by the accompanying support bar. Notably, the platform, whether in the form of planar supports or otherwise, can be positioned in parallel or perpendicular relationship to the elongated member pairs. In  FIG. 9B , the planar supports are positioned perpendicular to the elongated member pairs. In  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the planar supports are laid flat and the user is seen standing on the planar supports engaged in separate lower body and upper body exercises.  FIGS. 11A and 11B  depict the user engaged in upper body exercises while laying face up on the planar supports. In  FIGS. 12A and 12B , the user is engaged in alternate upper body exercises while laying face up on the planar supports, however, unlike the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the planar supports of  FIGS. 12A and 12B  are positioned normal to the elongated member pairs.  FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate still further examples of lower body leg exercise positions which may be adopted by a user of the apparatus. Persons of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the range of exercises supported by the apparatus of the present invention need not be limited to the examples presented herein. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 14A and 14B , a rowing assembly attachment can be affixed to the upper surface  104  of the base  102  in place of the planar supports  112 , which assembly includes a sliding seat portion mounted on a rail, and foot rests positioned proximal to the seat portion. In order to use the apparatus  100  as a rowing machine, a user can simply extend the elongated members  200  on the side of the foot rests outwardly from the base  102  and disconnect the cable  300  from the engagement member  302  at a connection point opposite the distal end of the engagement members  302 . Where two elongated member pairs are employed, one cable  300  of each elongated member pair can be disconnected such that the user can engage one cable  300  with each hand. 
     Despite its elongate shape (when in a use position), the apparatus of the present invention is stable, and provides a stable platform for supporting a user since the base  102  has a low centre of gravity and the user must apply his or her own weight to the base  102  in order to make use of the apparatus. 
     While one or more embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention. All such modifications are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.