Abstract:
A non-gravity type resistance exercise apparatus that includes a plurality of elastomeric cords which can be quickly and easily selectively coupled with a body engaging member to provide precise resistance to the performance of several different kinds of exercises. The apparatus includes a mechanism for selectively interconnecting the body engaging member with the selected resistance imparting cords of the apparatus. The elastomeric cords can be selected so that a wide range of effective resistance can readily be achieved.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates generally to an exercising apparatus and more particularly to a compact, multi-purpose exercise device for accomplishing a number of progressive resistance-type exercises using a novel elastomeric cord-resistance unit which provides a variable resistance to the performance of the exercises. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0007]    The therapeutic value of progressive resistance exercises has long been recognized. Exercising muscles against progressively increasing resistance not only results in added strength and endurance in the muscles, but also in the improvement of neuromuscular coordination and in a more efficient functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. 
         [0008]    In the past, various types of progressive weight training machines have been suggested. Typically, the prior art exercise apparatus uses one or more weights selected from a stack of weights to provide gravity resistance to the movement of a carriage or other body engaging means. Such apparatus inherently very heavy and not well suited for use in certain facilities. Additionally, the prior art apparatus is typically quite bulky and difficult to use in confined areas having limited ceiling heights. Further, the weight and bulk of the prior art devices makes their storage and transport quite difficult. 
         [0009]    The apparatus of the present invention overcomes many of the drawbacks of the prior art exercise devices by providing an apparatus that is compact, lightweight, and readily usable in confined areas. The apparatus includes a non-gravity selectorized resistance module that is made up of a plurality of elastomeric cords which offer variable resistance to the trainee. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, non-gravity type resistance exercise apparatus which is small, lightweight, and easy to use. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide an exercising device that includes a plurality of elastomeric cords which can be quickly and easily selectively coupled with the body engaging member to provide precise resistance to the performance of several different kinds of exercises. 
         [0011]    Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned character which includes a mechanism for selectively interconnecting the body engaging member with the selected resistance imparting cords of the apparatus. The elastomeric cords can be selected so that a wide range of effective resistance can readily be achieved. 
         [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described that includes novel connector elements that permit the apparatus to be connected to the seat of a chair so that exercises can be performed with the trainee sitting in the chair. 
         [0013]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a compact, lightweight exercise apparatus that is both safe and reliable, while at the same time providing a full range of movement when performing exercises. 
         [0014]    Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described in the preceding paragraphs that embodies a minimum number of component parts and one which is easily operable with a minimum of instruction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a generally perspective view illustrating one form of the exercise apparatus of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of the area designated as  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a generally perspective view illustrating the use of the exercise apparatus of the invention with a chair. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of the area designated as  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a generally diagrammatic view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the use of the apparatus to perform an exercise. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a generally diagrammatic view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the apparatus of the invention connected to a chair and showing the trainee seated in the chair and using the apparatus to perform an exercise. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , one form of the exercise apparatus of the invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  14 . Apparatus  14  here comprises a base assembly  16  that includes a central portion  18  and a pair of spaced apart foot engaging members  20  that are pivotally connected to the central portion for movement between the normal extended position and the stowed position shown by the dotted lines in  FIG. 1 . Also pivotally connected to central portion  18  of the base assembly is an elongate strut  22 . Strut  22  has a first end  22   a  that is pivotally connected to the central portion of the base assembly (see  FIG. 4 ), an intermediate portion  22   b  and a second end  22   c  that is spaced apart from first end  22   a.  Connected to connector strut  22  proximate first end  22   a  is a hub-like first guide member  24 . For a reason presently to be described, the intermediate portion of the strut  22  is provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures  26 . 
         [0022]    Also forming a part of the exercise apparatus of the invention is an elongate body engaging member  28  that is movable by the trainee between a first position shown in  FIG. 1  and a second position shown in  FIG. 4 . Body engaging member  28  has a first end  28   a,  a second end  28   b  and an intermediate portion  28   c.  As shown in  FIG. 1 , the second end  22   c  of the connector strut  22  is pivotally connected to the intermediate portion  28   c  of the body engaging member. For a reason presently to be described, the intermediate portion of the body engaging member is also provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures  30 . Connected to body engaging member  28  proximate its first end  28   a  is a second hub-like guide member  32  and removably connected to body engaging member  28  proximate its second end  28   b  is a pair of spaced apart handgrips  31  (see also  FIG. 3A ). 
         [0000]    Forming an important part of the exercise apparatus of the invention is a resistance means that functions to yieldably resist movement of the body engaging member from the first position to the second position. This important resistance means here comprises a pair of stretchable members  34  that interconnect the body engaging member  28  with the connector strut  22 . Stretchable members  34 , which here comprise elongated elastomeric cords, are entrained about the first and second guide members  24  and  32  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. As best seen in  FIG. 1 , each of the stretchable members  34  has a first end  34   a  that is provided with a hook-like member  42  and a second end  34   b  that is provided with a hook-like member  44 . It is to be understood that the elastomeric cords can be selected so that a wide range of effective resistance can readily be achieved. 
         [0023]    Connected to elongate body engaging member  28  for slidable movement between the first and second positions is a first selector assembly  36 . Selector assembly  36  here includes a box-like body  38  that includes a sleeve portion  38   a  that circumscribes the body engaging member and a pair of connector toggles  40  that are operable by the trainee to permit the pin portions  40   a  of the toggles to be removed from a selected one of the apertures  30  provided in the body engaging member (see arrows  41 ) so as to permit the selector assembly to be moved along the body engaging member from a first position shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 1  to a second position shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 1 . Selector assembly  36  also includes a pair of outwardly extending connector elements  43  to which end  42  of each of the stretchable members  34  is connected. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the second end  44  of each of the stretchable members  34  is connected to a second selector assembly  46  that is slidably movable along connector strut  22 . Second selector assembly  46 , which is of a substantially identical construction to first selector assembly  36 , includes a box-like body  48  that includes a sleeve portion  48   a  that circumscribes the connector strut  22  and a pair of connector toggles  50  that are operable by the trainee to permit the pin portions of the toggles (not shown) to be removed from a selected one of the apertures  26  provided in the connector strut  22  so as to permit the selector assembly to be moved along the connector strut. 
         [0024]    By moving the first selector assembly  36  along elongate body engaging member  28  so as to stretch, or relax the stretchable members  34 , the resistance offered by the stretchable members to movement of the body engaging member  28  can be controllably varied. Alternatively, by moving the second selector assembly  46  along connector strut  22  so as to stretch, or relax the stretchable members  34 , the resistance offered by the stretchable members to movement of the body engaging member  28  can also be controllably varied. 
         [0025]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  5 , base assembly  16  further includes two pairs of chair engaging members  54  that are pivotally connected to the central portion  18  of the base assembly  16  for movement between the stowed position shown in  FIG. 1  to the extended position shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , wherein the exercise apparatus can be connected to the seat of a chair. With the chair engaging members  54  extended, they can be positioned over the chair seat in the manner shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  so that the apparatus can be removably connected to the chair seat. With the trainee seated in the chair in the manner shown in  FIG. 5 , the trainee can perform several different resistance exercises. For example, by gripping the hand grips  31 , the elongate body engaging member  28  can be moved against the resistance of the stretchable members  34  between the first position shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 5  and the second position shown by the solid lines. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , similar resistance exercises can be performed by the trainee when the spaced apart foot engaging members  20  are positioned on the floor “F”. In this instance, the trainee steps on the foot engaging members, grips the hand grips  31  and pulls the elongate body engaging member  28  against the resistance of the stretchable members  34  from the first position shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 4 , to the second position shown by the solid lines. In this way, the muscles of the arms, shoulders, the back and the stomach can be progressively exercised. 
         [0027]    Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.