Patent ID: 8092354

Claim:
An exercise apparatus for use in stretching, the exercise apparatus comprising: a tubular member having a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior, the second end being opposite the first end; a shaft member that is sized to slidably insert into the tubular member at the first end, the shaft member and the tubular member defining a telescoping structure that extends in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of apertures provided in the shaft member along the longitudinal direction; a projection located at the tubular member to engage one of the plurality of apertures and to maintain a relative position between the tubular member and the shaft member; a bracket coupled to a top surface of the shaft member; a handle assembly including two handles, each handle being pivotally secured to opposite ends of the bracket and each handle being configured to form an angle with respect to the shaft member, wherein a securing mechanism of the bracket is adjustable to fix each handle in a position substantially perpendicular to the shaft member, a position forming an acute angle to the shaft member and a position substantially parallel to the shaft member; a connector coupled to the second end of the tubular member; and a base coupled to the connector, the base includes a pair of hinged pedals, each hinged pedal being adjustable to extend substantially perpendicular to the tubular member during use and substantially parallel to the tubular member during storage, wherein each hinged pedal has a planar shape that is covered with a material to resist slipping, an upper surface having grooves that provide a friction pattern and is adapted to frictionally receive a foot thereon, and a bottom surface that is flat to frictionally engage an underlying floor covered with a gritty material to resist slipping, the base including: an upper surface having grooves that provide a friction pattern, the upper surface being adapted to frictionally receive a foot thereon; and a bottom surface that is flat to frictionally engage an underlying floor, thereby preventing the base from slipping.