Abstract:
An exercise apparatus including a base structure comprising a fixed lower body exercise platform and a pair of elongated upper body exercising units is disclosed. The units are mounted to the base structure by mounting structure that enables the units to be moved by a user against a yielding resistance in any direction with respect to a center in conjunction with the user stepping onto or off of the platform in any direction while performing an exercise thereon. The elongated upper body exercising units preferably include two telescoping exercise poles to be grasped by opposite hands of the user and capable of both oscillating and reciprocating upper body exercising motion. A variable volume air chamber is defined in an annular gap between coaxially arranged inner and outer members of the telescoping exercise poles and a restricted air passage communicates with the air chamber. Reciprocating motion of the telescoping pole causes the volume of the air chamber to alternately expand and contract and the restricted air passage restricts air flow into and out of the chamber to effect a resistance to the reciprocating motion. The poles are preferably mounted to the base structure by coupling each pole to a separate pivoting arm that is secured to the base structure so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis. Lateral orientation of the poles with respect to the base structure and each other can be varied by pivoting each pivoting arm to which each pole is attached and then securing each arm in a desired orientation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus comprising a fixed lower body exercise platform and a pair of pole-like exercising units operatively coupled with the exercise platform for movement by the user against a yielding resistance in any direction in conjunction with a lower body stepping exercise on the fixed lower body exercise platform to accommodate a wide range of motion of a user of the platform with respect to the platform. 
     2. Background Information 
     Step aerobics has become an increasingly popular mode of aerobic exercise. A small platform, or step, typically only few inches off the ground, is provided and the user performs the aerobic exercise with the assistance of the platform. Basically, the user performs various exercises by stepping on to and off of the platform in fairly rapid succession. 
     Aerobic platforms in use today are contacted only by the feet of the user. Further, platforms today provide only aerobic exercise and provide no resistance exercise. To incorporate resistance training into a step aerobic routine, the platform user must use hand and/or ankle weights of some type. Heretofore, platforms included no handles or rails to assist the user in maintaining balance while performing exercise, and included no apparatus to provide the user with upper body, i.e., arms, shoulders, and chest, exercise. 
     The present invention is based upon the recognition of a need in the aerobic platform exerciser art to provide an aerobic platform exerciser which has the built-in capability of integrating resistance exercising to the basic aerobic exercising capability of such exercisers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to fulfill the need expressed above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention this objective is achieved by providing an exercising apparatus which includes a base structure comprising a fixed lower body exercise platform constructed and arranged to permit a user to perform lower body exercises by stepping onto and off of the fixed lower body exercise platform in any of a plurality of different directions with respect to the fixed lower body exercise platform. A pair of elongated upper body exercising units are provided which have upper ends constructed and arranged to be grasped by opposite hands of the user. And a pair of mounting structures are provided which are constructed and arranged to mount lower ends of the pair of elongated upper body exercising units on the base structure to enable the upper ends of the pair of elongated upper body exercising units to be moved by the user grasping the upper ends of the pair of elongated upper body exercising units and moving the pair of elongated upper body exercise units against a yielding resistance in any direction about centers generally coincident with respective lower ends of the pair of elongated upper body exercising units to accommodate movement of the user in different directions with respect to the fixed lower body exercise platform. 
     The mounting structure is constructed and arranged to enable the user to move one or both of the elongated upper body exercising units against the yielding resistance in conjunction with the user stepping onto or off of the fixed lower body exercise platform or while the user is standing on the fixed lower body exercise platform. 
     It has also been noted that a number of exercises to be performed in conjunction with a step aerobic platform have been developed which require that the user move in a wide range of directions with respect to the platform, i.e., from side to side, fore and aft, and diagonally across the platform. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the accommodation of a wide range of movements is accomplished by providing the exercising apparatus describe above wherein the mounting structures include adjusting mechanisms constructed and arranged to enable adjustment of a lateral orientation of the centers associated with the pair of elongated upper body exercising units with respect to the base structure by pivoting the centers associated with the pair of elongated upper body exercising units about respective substantially parallel vertical axes into different operative positions in which the centers associated with the pair of upper body exercising units are disposed in different laterally spaced orientations with respect to the base structure to accommodate different movements of the user with respect to the fixed lower body exercise platform while the user is moving one or both elongated upper body exercising units in any direction against the yielding resistance about the associated centers in conjunction with the user stepping onto or off of the fixed lower body exercise platform or while the user is standing on the fixed lower body exercise platform. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims. The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a step aerobic platform having upper body exercisers according to the present invention mounted thereon, with the upper body exercisers configured in a closely-spaced orientation; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a step aerobic platform having upper body exercisers according to the present invention mounted thereon, with the upper body exercising units configured in a widely-spaced orientation; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the upper body exercising apparatus of the present invention as mounted on a step aerobic platform; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an upper portion of an exercise pole of an upper body exerciser according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a lower portion of an exercise pole of an upper body exerciser according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of a step aerobic platform having upper body exercisers according to the present invention mounted thereon; and 
     FIG. 7 is a partial elevation, partially in cross-section, of a step aerobic platform having upper body exercisers according to the present invention mounted thereon. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An exercise apparatus 20 having upper body exercising units mounted thereon according to the principles of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper body exercising units, which comprise exercising poles 24 and pivoting mounting mechanisms 26, are attached to a step aerobic platform 22. Each of the mounting mechanisms 26 is preferably constructed, in a manner to be described below, so as to be pivotable in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2 about a substantially vertical pivot axis 27. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pivot axes 27 for both the left and right mounting mechanisms are substantially parallel to one another. 
     As shown by a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, the pivotability of mounting mechanisms 26 permits adjustment of the exercise poles 24 into a position, as shown in FIG. 1, of close proximity to one another or a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein poles 24 are widely spaced from one another and from the exercise platform 22. It can be appreciated that with the apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 1, a user can perform lateral side-to-side movements with respect to the platform 22, without impediment from the poles 24, and the user can grasp and use one or both poles 24 for upper body exercise and/or balance while making the side-to-side movements. Similarly, with the apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 2, a user can perform fore-and-aft movements with respect to the platform 22, without impediment from the poles 24, and the user can grasp and use one or both poles 24 for upper body exercise and/or balance while making the fore-and-aft movements. Furthermore, exercise poles 24 can preferably be adjusted into any position between that shown in FIG. 1 and that shown in FIG. 2, and the adjusting mechanisms can be pivoted rearwardly so that the exercise poles 24 are disposed against the sides of the platform 22. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, platform 22 comprises a conventional step aerobic platform, preferably including a flat top surface 21, an angled surface 23 extending downwardly from the flat top surface 21, and an area 25, including portions of top surface 21 and angled surface 23, having laterally extending ridges, or the like, provided thereon to enhance traction on the platform. 
     Although the upper body exercising units of the present invention are illustrated and described with respect to mounting thereof on a step aerobic platform, it is to be understood that, in the broadest aspects contemplated of the present invention, the upper body exercising units described herein could as well be mounted on various other types of lower body exercising platforms, such as, for example, treadmills, stationary bicycles, cross-country ski machines, and stair stepping machines. The moveability of the upper body exercise units of the present invention is most beneficial when the units are incorporated with a lower body exercise device that permits or requires a wide range of motion by the user with respect to the device, such as a step aerobic platform. 
     Furthermore, although it is preferred that the poles be mounted to the platform so as to be laterally pivotable, in the broadest aspects contemplated of the invention, significant benefit and improvement over prior art exercise platforms can be realized by providing an exercise platform with exercise poles having no pivoting adjusting capability. 
     The construction and assembly of the exercise poles 24 and mounting mechanisms 26 will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 3-7. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, each exercise pole 24 comprises an inner elongated member, or tube, 28 preferably of hollow tubular construction, and an outer elongated member, or tube, 30 preferably of a hollow tubular construction that is sized so as to fit coaxially over the inner elongated member 28 with a gap 29 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) between an outer surface of inner elongated member 28 and an inner surface of outer elongated member 30. Inner elongated member 28 is preferably made of aluminum and outer elongated member 30 is preferably made of polyvinylchloride (&#34;PVC&#34;). 
     As shown in FIGS. 3-5, exercise poles 24 include coupling structure for operatively coupling the inner and outer elongated members 28 and 30. This coupling structure includes a guide plug 36 and an annular bushing 34. Guide plug 36 is disc-shaped and is disposed at the top end of the inner elongated member 28 and includes a cylindrical portion that fits inside inner tube 28 and is preferably held in place by a set screw 37. (see FIG. 4) The outside diameter of the guide plug 36 is smaller than the inside diameter of the outer elongated member 30 so that the outer elongated member 30 can easily fit over guide plug 36 and so that an annular gap 39 is defined between the outer periphery of the guide plug 36 and the inner surface of the outer elongated member 30. 
     Bushing 34 is snugly but slidably disposed on the inner elongated member 28 at a position below the guide plug 36. The lower end of outer elongated member 30 is fixedly secured to the bushing 34, preferably by press-fitting bushing 34 into elongated member 30 or by providing mating exterior threads on the bushing 34 and interior threads on the lower end of the outer elongated member 30. Bushing 34 is preferably composed of plastic. 
     A foam grip 32 is preferably provided over the upper end of the outer elongated member 30. 
     With the inner elongated member 28 and outer elongated member 30 configured as described, it can be appreciated that outer elongated member 30 is able to move in an axial telescoping manner with respect to the inner elongated member 28. Guide plug 36 functions as a stop which prevents the outer elongated member 30 from being raised beyond the upper end of the inner elongated member 28 when bushing 34 contacts guide plug 36. Thus telescoping movement of outer elongated member 30 with respect to inner elongated member 28 is limited by guide plug 36. 
     Furthermore, guide plug 36 and bushing 34 define a variable volume air chamber within gap 29. The volume of the air chamber is greatest when outer tube 30 is at its lowest position with respect to inner tube 28, i.e., when bushing 34 is at its most spaced apart position from guide plug 36. Alternatively, the volume of the air chamber is smallest, i.e., zero, when the outer tube 30 is at its highest position with respect to inner tube 28, i.e., when bushing 34 comes into contact with guide plug 36. 
     When outer tube 30 is raised with respect to inner tube 28, the decreasing volume of the air chamber forces air out of the variable volume air chamber through annular gap 39, which functions as an air passage. Because of the small size of air passage 39, airflow therethrough is restricted. As mentioned above, bushing 34 preferably fits snugly over inner tube 28, and therefore, little if any air escapes from the variable volume air chamber through the interface of bushing 34 and inner tube 28. The restriction of the flow of air being forced out of the variable volume air chamber through air passage 39 effects a resistance to the rapid raising of the outer tube 30 with respect to the inner tube 28. 
     Similarly, when the outer tube 30 is lowered with respect to inner tube 28, the increasing volume of the air chamber draws air into the variable volume air chamber through the air passage 39. Again, the restriction of the flow of air being drawn into the variable volume air chamber through air passage 39 effects a resistance to the rapid lowering of the outer tube 30 with respect to the inner tube 28. 
     Resistance to rapid raising and lowering of the outer tubes 30 with respect to the inner tubes 28 enhances the aerobic exercise effect of rapid reciprocating movement of the exercise poles 24 by a user. 
     An insert 38 is attached to the lower end of the inner tube 28. Insert 38 is externally threaded so as to be threadable into the upper end of a coil spring 42. Insert 38 is preferably comprised of steel and is preferably secured to inner elongated member 28 by means of exterior threads that mate with interior threads formed in the lower end of inner tube 28. A sleeve 40, preferably comprised of foam, is preferably placed over coil spring 42 to cover and protect spring 42. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, a frame structure 100 is preferably disposed within the platform 22. Poles 24 are attached to frame 100 via mounting mechanisms 26 in a manner to be described in more detail below. Frame 100 includes two parallel, spaced apart longitudinal structural members 106 and 108 and a lateral structural member 102 extending therebetween. A second lateral structure member 104 extends across the ends of longitudinal structural members 106 and 108 and extends laterally beyond the width of the spaced longitudinal members 106 and 108. Structural members 102, 104, 106 and 108 are preferably composed of tubular steel and are preferably attached to one another by welding. 
     The structure 100 is secured beneath the platform 22. Slots 110 (see FIG. 3) provided in the end face of platform 22 accommodate longitudinal structural members 106 and 108. Structural frame 100 is preferably secured to platform 22 by mechanical fasteners, such as bolts or screws or the like. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, cylindrical swivel mounts 50 are disposed on opposite ends of the lateral structural member 104. Swivel mounts 50 are preferably of a steel tubular construction and are preferably secured to lateral structural member 104 by welding. Circular plastic plugs 52 are preferably inserted into the lower end of the cylindrical swivel mount 50 so as to prevent the lower end of swivel mount 50 from scratching or scuffing a floor surface. A threaded lug 48 extends vertically upwardly from the center of the cylindrical swivel mount 50. Lug 48 preferably comprises an upwardly extending bolt welded to a washer 49 which is welded to the swivel mount 50. 
     Mounting mechanisms 26 are secured atop the cylindrical swivel mounts 50 so as to be pivotal with respect thereto. As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, each mounting mechanism 26 includes a cylindrical swivel guide 64, a pivoting arm 62, and a pole attachment tube 54, all preferably of tubular steel construction and secured to one another by welding. Pivoting arm 62 extends radially outwardly from the swivel guide 64, and pole attachment tube 54 is secured proximate an end of the pivoting arm 62 opposite from the swivel guide 64. Plastic caps 63 are preferably press-fitted into the ends of pivoting arm 62. Swivel guide 64 includes circular plugs 66 and 67 inserted into opposite axial ends thereof, each plug having a centrally located aperture extending therethrough for receiving the threaded lug 48 extending from the swivel mount 50. An adjusting knob 46 having an interiorly threaded bore, is threaded onto the upper end of the lug 48. 
     It can be appreciated that swivel guide 64 sits atop the swivel mount 50 and is able to rotate with respect thereto about the lug 48. Adjusting knob 46 can be tightened onto lug 48 so as to place the swivel guide 64 into a state of compression between the swivel mount 50 and the adjusting knob 46 to prevent pivoting of the mounting mechanism 26 and thus secure the mounting mechanism 26 in a desired orientation. 
     Swivel guide 64 could be secured in a desired orientation by other means as well. For example, a disc having circumferentially-spaced apertures could be provided above and/or below swivel guide 64. An aperture provided in pivoting arm 62 would permit pivoting arm 62 to be locked by placing a pin through aligned holes in pivoting arm 62 and the above described disc(s). The above-described adjusting knobs 46 are preferred, however, because they permit a continuous variety of pivoting arm orientations. 
     Arcuate surfaces 68 are preferably formed in the corners of the platform 22 so as to accommodate the cylindrical swivel mount 50 and the swivel guide 26. 
     The pole attachment tube 54 preferably extends downwardly below the pivoting arm 62 so that the bottom end of the pole attachment tube 54 is in contact with the floor at all times. Plastic caps 56 are preferably inserted into the bottom end of the pole attachment tube 54 so as to prevent scuffing or scratching of the floor surface. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, annular threaded inserts 60 having an interiorly threaded aperture are secured to the tops of the pole attachment tubes 54 by means of bolts 58. Bolts 58 are threaded into threaded slugs 59, which are welded to attachment tubes 54. The outer surface of insert 60 is threaded so as to accommodate the lower end of coil spring 42. In this manner, poles 24 are operatively secured, or mounted, to the base structure via the mounting mechanisms 26 and are capable of oscillation, via the coil springs 42, in any direction about the points at which the springs 42 are attached to the base, i.e., at the top of pole attachment tubes 54, which comprise centers of movement of the poles 24. The coil springs 42 also provide yielding resistance to oscillating movement of the poles 24, thus enhancing the exercise effect of such movement. Of course, while a coil spring is preferred, it should be apparent that other resilient couplings, such as for example, lengths of rubber hose of sufficient stiffness, could be used to couple the lower ends of poles 24 to the mounting mechanisms is manner that permits oscillation of the poles in any direction. 
     Further, while in the preferred embodiment shown both the mounting function and the yieldable resistance providing function are performed by a single structure, namely, coil spring 42, it is within the contemplation of the invention in it broadest aspects to provide these functions by separate structures. One example might comprise a rigid mount fixing the pole to the base structure in a fixed, vertical orientation, with a coil spring provided at an intermediate location along the length of the pole to permit movement against yielding resistance about the intermediate point. 
     Furthermore, in embodiments having no lateral adjustment capability, the poles are operatively coupled, by means of springs or the like, directly to a fixed portion of the platform. 
     As mentioned above, the inner tubes 28 are preferably made of aluminum and the outer tubes 30 are preferably made of PVC. A user of the base lower body exercise device, especially a user of a step aerobic platform, can be expected to move through a wide range of positions and directions with respect to the base in the context of performing the lower body exercise thereon. Accordingly, it is desired that the exercise poles be able to accommodate this wide range of movement. Part of that accommodation is provided by the mounting of the poles to the platform which permits the poles to oscillate in any direction about their centers. In addition, the tubes, primarily the PVC outer tube 30 but also to some extent the aluminum inner tube 28, are able to flex elastically, thus further accommodating a wide range of movement by the user with respect to the base. 
     The embodiment describe above represents the preferred embodiment of the present upper body exercising apparatus. As an alternative to the configuration described above, the outer hollow tube of the exercise poles could be coupled, via a coil spring, to a base exercise device and the inner tube could be disposed so as to be capable of telescoping movement with respect to the outer tube. In this case, a guide plug would be fixed to the bottom end of the inner tube and a slidable bushing would be fixed to an upper end of the outer tube. 
     Also alternatively, the guide plug could be dimensioned so as to fit snugly between the inner and outer tubes and a gap could be provided between the bushing and the outer surface of the inner tube, which would then serve as the restricted air passage. 
     In either of the above-described alternative embodiments, the fundamental operation of the present invention is the same. Specifically, as a telescoping tube is moved axially upwardly with respect to a fixed tube, the volume of a variable volume air chamber defined between the two coaxial tubes decreases, and air is forced out of the chamber through a restricted air passage which effects a resistance to the upward axial movement. Conversely, as the telescoping tube is moved axially downwardly with respect to the fixed tube, the volume of a variable volume air chamber increases, and air is drawn into the chamber through the restricted air passage which effects a resistance to the downward axial movement. 
     It will be realized that the foregoing preferred specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and instructional principles of this invention and are subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.