EXERCISE STOOL

SELLETTE D'EXERCICE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
An exercise stool is disclosed. The stool has a generally
rectangular platform pivotally connected at one edge thereof
to a frame, and means for supporting the platform near the
opposite edge. The platform has two sides having different
characteristics, and is reversible such that the pivotal
connection can be effected with either side of the platform
facing upwardly. In the preferred embodiment, the frame
comprises a single tubular member formed into a shape which is
generally U-shaped as viewed from above, with the ends of the
arms of the U-shape being bent downwardly to form an L-shape
as viewed from the side. The pivotally connected edge of the
platform is pivotally connected to the base portion of the U-
shape, and the platform edge opposite the pivotally connected
edge is supported between the downwardly bent portions of the
L-shape. The support means preferably is a rod positionable
with opposite ends thereof in selected holes provided in the
frame.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An exercise stool, comprising a generally rectangular
platform pivotally connected at one edge thereof to a frame, and
further comprising means for supporting said platform near the
edge opposite said pivotally connected edge at any one of a
plurality of positions on said frame, said platform having two
sides having different characteristics, and being reversible such
that said pivotal connection can be effected with either side of
the platform facing generally upwardly.
2. An exercise stool as recited in claim 1, in which said
means for supporting said platform near said opposite edge
thereof comprises a rod positionable with opposite ends thereof
in selected holes provided in said frame, said rod being
positionable under said platform near said opposite edge to
thereby support said platform.
3. An exercise stool as recited in claim 1, in which said
frame comprises a single tubular member formed into a shape which
is generally U-shaped as viewed from above, said U shape
comprising a base portion and two integral arms projecting
therefrom, the ends of the arms of the U-shape being bent
downwardly to form an L-shape as viewed from the side, and in
which said pivotally connected edge of said platform is pivotally
connected to said base portion of said U-shape, and said platform
edge opposite said pivotally connected edge is supported between
said downwardly bent portions of said L-shape.

4. An exercise stool as recited in claim 3, in which said
means for supporting said platform near said opposite edge
thereof comprises a rod positionable with opposite ends thereof
in selected holes provided in said downwardly bent portions of
said L-shape, said rod being positionable under said platform
near said opposite edge to thereby support said platform.
5. An exercise stool as recited in any one of claims 1,
2, 3 or 4, in which said platform is triangular in cross-section.

Description

3~;~35
EXERCISE STOOL:
This invention relates to an exercise foot-stool, upon which one
stands, while performing a number of stretching and bending
exercises.
Various exercise stools have been proposed heretofore, to aid and
enhance body exercising. It is customary with these devices that -
the body be in a sitting or lying position, with various restraint
devices provided and employed while exercises are performed.
The invention presented provides a multi-purpose exercise stool,
which incorporates a -tiltable platform, designed to fit under the
feet and provide support, while various lower body and stretching
exercises are performed from a standing mode. The platform is hing-
ed to a support frame, allowing the platform to be tilted to vari-
ous inclined positions, with an adjustment device supporting it at
any chosen position. The platform has one flat, and one profiled
surface, and is reversable at the hinged connection, allowing the
user an immediate choice of working face. The platform is also
easily removed, a~d is interchangeable with other platforms with
various other face designs, textures and compositions.
It is proposed here that the user's own body-weight provides the
restraint, while lower body and stre-tching exercises are being
performed.

;3595
-- 2 --
A preferred embodimen-t of -the invention is illus-trated in the
accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of -the exercise stool;
Fig. 2 is a side-view on a reduced scale, showing how the exercise
stool may be used;
Fig. 3 is again the same view as in Fig. 2, showing the platform
reversed; and
Fig. 4 is a part elevation in section of the hinging device.
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals
refer to similar parts, there is illustrated an exercise stool which
consists of three main components:
The tiltable platform 10, adapted to be positioned under the feet of
and support a person A in a standing mode; the support frame 20
extending around three sides of the platform 10, and to which the
p].atform 10 is hinged; and, any suitable adjustment device, but in
the form shown, an ad3ustment bar 30 which extends between the legs 23
of the frame 20, and which provides the support for the platform 10 in
any inclined position chosen.
The platform 10 is a board 11 with non-skid surfaces 12 provided on
both faces. The board 11 is near-square shaped, with one side
slightly shorter than the other three sides, the exterior dimensions
belng suitable to permit comfortable support for both feet of an
adult using the device. One face of the board 11 is flat, and the
other profiled.
The support frame 20, in the form chosen, is a free-standing tubular

3~;~5
structure extending around three sides of the platform 10, and is
shaped so as to give a three-point rest position on the floor. At
the centre there is a straight section 21 equal in length to the
short side of the platform 10. This straight section 21 of the
frame 20, which forms one of the three floor-rest positions, lies
along the short side of the platform 10 and the platform 10 is
attached to adjacent inner edge of the frame 20 by a hinging device
22. From each end of the straight section 21 the frame 20 bends
sharply to extend along the sides of the platform 10 adjacent to the
short side. The extreme ends of the frame 20 bend down toward the
floor to form legs 23 at the corners of the platform 10 opposite ~ -~
the hinged side. These legs 23 complete the three floor-rest
positions of the frame 20.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the hinging device 22 comprises
a channel section with a pin protruding from the web, the pin is
sized to fit securely into a suitably positioned hole in the inner
edge of frame 20. The channel is secured to the platform 10.
A series of holes 24 are provided in the inside opposing faces of the
frame legs 23 to allow for the positioning of adjustment bar 30,
thus creatlng an adjustable support for the platform 10. The adjust-
ment bar 30 is positioned by springing the frame legs 23 apart suf-
ficiently wide to allow the adjustment bar 30 entry into the pair of
opposing holes 24 selected, with the adjustment bar 30 being long
enough to give a fully secured position when the frame 20 is released
to assume its natural position.
The adjustment bar 30 passes beneath the platform 10 in its hinged

-
~35gS
-- 4 --
position, below the platform lO edge opposite -the hinyed side,
thereby providing the adjustable support. The adjustment bar 30 may
be of any cross-section si~ed to support the weight of an adult.
The design of this exercise stool allows for a variety of exercises
to be safely performed. The stool can be easily adapted to become an
item built-in, attached to, or used in conjunction with larger body-
building equipment. Modification of the preferred embodiment illus-
trated could readily occur to others. For example, the support frame
could be replaced by vertical boards, positioned in a face-to-face
relationship and secured to the pla-tform by hinging devices. The
adjustment bar could be replaced by ratchet mechanisms which allow
for vertical adjustment so as to give the angle of tilt desired for
the platform. The device may be made entirely of me-tal, or hard -
plastics, or in any other variety of forms resulting in a different
appearance without departing from the exclusive basic design and
novelty of the invention.
, .
These and other modifications are intended to be included within the
scope o~ the appended claims.

Representative Drawing