Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Portable, Collapsible Exercise Machine
Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to exercise machines and more particularly
to a
portable, collapsible exercise machine with the ability to exercise the
abdominal and
arms using transferable resistance cords.
Background of the Invention
There are numerous types of exercise devices, and portable exercise devices
have
become more popular as they provide a convenient alternative to costly health
club
memberships. There are a wide variety of exercise machines on the market that
concentrate or work individual parts of the body, such as abdominal curling
apparatuses,
arm weights, resistant leg bands, large abdominal exercising balls by way of
example
only. The majority of these devices however only allow the user to work one
part of the
body at a time such as the arms or the legs. Furthermore some of these devices
although
technically portable are not collapsible into an easy travelling size and
weight.
Prior art portable exercise devices have been devised to address the some of
these
issues. For example, United States Patent Appin. No. 2006/0160681 was filed on
January 11, 2006 by McBride et al. and relates to a portable workout apparatus
comprising a bar, a frame, and a padded structured secured to the frame. The
bar is held
at an adjustable bar height. The frame supports the bar at the adjustable bar
height. The
padded structure is secured to the frame, and has a first portion and a second
portion.
The first and second portions have a deployed position forming a substantially
horizontal
surface that forms an opening with the bar and the frame that is adapted to
accommodate
a user. The first portion is further capable of pivoting, relative to the
second portion, to a
substantially vertical position for storage.
Barrett is the owner of U.S. Patent No. 6,110,081 which issued on August 29,
2000 and relates to a portable resistance-type exercise apparatus has a
hinged, padded
platform to support the head and back, a rigid frame including two curved
tubes running
along either side of the platform, and an elastic cord disposed inside each
tube. Each
elastic cord has a hand grip for allowing the user to grip the cords securely
when doing
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abdominal exercises. To use the apparatus while doing an abdominal crunch, the
user
holds onto the hand grips and lifts the torso while pulling the hand grips
away from the
head and toward the knees at the same time. The resistance provided by the
elastic cords
increases the effort required to lift the torso, strengthening the abdominal
muscles more
quickly than conventional abdominal crunches. The apparatus can also be
attached
upright to a chair for exercising different muscles in the arms, shoulders and
back by
changing the direction in which the elastic cords are pulled.
U.S. Patent No. 5,993,361 which issued on November 30, 1999 to Paoli and
relates to a portable, multi-configurable exercise apparatus including a first
pair of
parallel spaced elongate rigid members having an outer and an inner rigid
member and a
second pair of parallel spaced elongate rigid members having an outer and an
inner rigid
member. The first pair of elongate rigid members being coupled to the second
pair of
elongate rigid members by a pair of elongate guide members parallel spaced and
transverse to the first and second pairs of rigid members. The outer and inner
rigid
members of each pair of rigid members being separated by at least one elastic
member
for providing variable resistance between each inner member and respective
outer
member.
Thus a portable, collapsible exercise machine which allows for the user's
abdominals and arms to be exercised and is easy to transport and set up is
desirable.
Summary of the Invention
An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved
portable, collapsible exercise machine with the ability to exercise the
abdominal and
arms using transferable resistance cords.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
portable, collapsible exercise machine having an adjustable support member
having a
first portion having a first end and a second end and a second portion having
a first end
and a second end. The portable collapsible exercise machine further includes a
removable, adjustable T-bar arm member adapted to adjustably engage the first
end of
the first portion, and a removable, adjustable T-bar foot member adapted to
adjustably
engage the second end of the second portion. Removable resistance members
adapted to
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engage the adjustable support member, the removable, adjustable T-bar arm
member and
the removable, adjustable T-bar foot member are also included. The second end
of the
first portion is hinged to the first end of the second portion at a point so
as to allow the
first and second portions to fold back onto one another into a collapsed
position.
Conveniently, a series of attachment zones adapted to engage the removable
resistance members are located at the hinged point connecting the first and
second
portions, at the adjustable T-bar arm member and at the adjustable T-bar foot
member.
Preferably, the removable resistance members are further defined as resistance
elastomeric tubing and further comprise safety socks that encompass the
removable
resistance members and secure to the first end and the second end of the
resistance
elastomeric tubing.
Advantages of the present invention are: the ability to transport and set up a
portable exercise machine in a wide variety environments, a convenient
collapsible
format that is light weight and easy for seniors to use, a wide variety of
exercises may be
performed, various exercise attachment accessories are available, three
different points
for attaching the accessories allowing for arm and abdominal exercises, easy
attachment
zones for quick assembly and disassembly, three different positions for
adjustment of the
seat, comfortable handles on all accessories, safety sock around the
resistance tubing to
limit the possibility of injury, and the portable exercise machine grows with
the athlete
from beginner to professional.
Brief Description of the Drawings
A detailed description of the preferred embodiments is provided herein below
by
way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 in a perspective view, illustrates a portable collapsible exercise
machine
in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 in a back perspective view, illustrates the portable collapsible
exercise
machine of Figure 1.
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Figure 3 in a back perspective view, illustrates the portable collapsible
exercise machine of
Figure 1.
Figure 4 in a front perspective view, illustrates the portable collapsible
exercise machine
of Figure 1.
Figure 5 in a partial perspective view, illustrates the portable collapsible
exercise machine
of Figure 1 showing the adjustment of the `l'-bar foot member.
Figure 6 in a partial perspective view, illustrates the portable collapsible
exercise machine
of Figure 1 showing the adjustment of the T-bar arm member.
Figure 7 in a bottom perspective view, illustrates the portable collapsible
exercise machine
of Figure 1.
Figure 8 in a side view, illustrates the portable collapsible exercise machine
of Figure l
oriented in a 90 angle.
Figure g 19] in a side view, illustrates the portable collapsible exercise
machine of Figure 1
oriented in a collapsed position.
In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way
of
example. It is to he 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 of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is illustrated in perspective views, a
portable, collapsible
exercise machine 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The
portable, collapsible exercise machine 10 includes an adjustable support
member 12 having a first
portion 14 having a first end 16 and a second end 18 and a second portion 20
having a first end 22
and a second end 24. The portable collapsible exercise machine 10 further
includes a removable,
adjustable "1'-bar arm member 26 adapted to adjustably engage the first end 16
of the first portion
14, and a removable, adjustable T-bar foot member 28 adapted to adjustably
engage the second
end 24 of the second portion 20. Removable resistance members 30 adapted to
engage
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the adjustable support member, the removable, adjustable T-bar arm member 26
and the
removable, adjustable T-bar foot member 28 are also included. The second end
18 of the
first portion 14 is hinged to the first end 22 of the second portion 20 at a
point 32 so as to
allow the first and second portions 14 and 20 to fold back onto one another
into a
collapsed position.
The first portion 14 may be further defined as a padded back support member 34
and the second portion 20 may be further defined as a padded seat support
member 36.
The hinged point 32 connecting the first and second portions 14 and 20,
further includes
a series of attachment zones 38 adapted to engage the removable resistance
members 30.
The removable, adjustable T-bar arm member 26 includes a series of attachment
zones
39 adapted to engage the removable resistance members 30. Referring to Figure
6, the
removable, adjustable T-bar arm member 26 includes a removable locking pin 27
that
allows the T-bar arm member 26 to be adjusted to a variety of lengths away
from the
adjustable support member 12 thereby accommodating different heights of users.
Furthermore the T-bar arm member can have numerous attachment zones 39 so as
to
attach various accessories to accomplish various exercises such as pull downs,
and may
be padded for additional comfort.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5 the removable, adjustable T-bar foot member 28
further includes an adjustable foot anchor 40 that swivels back and forth
about the T-bar
foot member 28 so as to securely accommodate different sized feet. More
specifically a
user with small feet can easily move or swivel the adjustable foot anchor 40
down to
contact the tops of the feet and therefore provide support for the user during
exercise.
The removable, adjustable T-bar foot member also includes a series of
attachment zones
42 adapted to engage the removable resistance members 30. The removable,
adjustable
T-bar foot member 28 includes a removable locking pin 41 that allows the T-bar
foot
member 28 to be adjusted to a variety of lengths away from the adjustable
support
member 12 thereby accommodating different lengths of the user's legs.
The various attachment zones 38, 39 and 42 may be better defined as pigtail
loops 44 that allow for the easy attachment and detachment of the removable
resistance
members 30. More specifically the resistance members 30 can easily slide onto
the end
of the pigtail loops 44 which securely hold the resistance members 30 during
their use.
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The removable resistance members 30 are further defined as resistance
elastomeric tubing 46 that can provide resistance in a range between 0 and 140
pounds.
As such the resistance is adjustable to accommodate the fitness level of the
user. The
resistance elastomeric tubing 46 can have flexible handles 48 at a first end
50 and a
flexible loop 52 at a second end 54 which is adapted to engage the attachment
zones 38,
39 and 42 or pigtail loops 44. The flexible handles 48 provide easy comfort to
the user
during exercise.
The removable resistance members 30 also include safety socks 56 that
encompass the removable resistance members 30 and are secured to the first end
50 and
the second end 54 of the resistance elastomeric tubing 46. The safety socks 56
may be
made from braided nylon tubing, by way of example only and have a defined
length
secured to the first end 50 and the second end 54 of the resistance
elastomeric tubing 46.
Due to the manner in which the safety socks 56 are attached to the resistance
elastomeric
tubing 46, the safety socks 56 limit the degree of stretch the resistance
elastomeric tubing
46 extends.
Furthermore the use of elastomeric tubing provides for a cushioned accessory
with no metal parts, therefore limiting the possibility of injury from the
removable
resistance members 30. The safety socks 56 may also be made from material that
is UV
resistant so as to protect the removable resistance members 30 from fading.
The safety
socks 56 furthermore protect the removable resistance members 30 from
scratches and
rubbing. The removable resistance members 30 may also be adjustable static arm
bands
58 having handles 60 at one end 62 and a flexible loop 64 at a second end 62
adapted to
engage the attachment zones 38, 39 and 42. The adjustable static arm bands 58
may
include Velcro and ladder locks to easily adjust the length of the adjustable
static arm
bands 58 to accommodate for the different lengths of user's arms.
Referring to Figures 2 and 7 to 9 the adjustable support member 12 can be
adjusted into different positions to accommodate the desired exercise and
level of fitness
of the user. For example the adjustable support member 12 can be adjusted to a
90
locked position about the hinged point using a lockable adjusting mechanism
66. The
adjustable support member 12 may also be positioned into a 45 position, a 180
or flat
position or a 0 or collapsed position. The lockable adjusting mechanism 66
may include
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a biased lever 68 that moves a locking pin 70 between engaged and disengaged
positions
thereby allowing for the repositioning of the adjustable support member 12
into various
positions noted above. In the collapsed position the T-bar arm member 26 and
the T-bar
foot member 28 may be removed from the adjustable support member 12 by
releasing
the locking pins 27 and 41 thereby readying the portable, collapsible exercise
machine
into a format ready for easy transport.
As noted above the attachment zones 38, 39 and 42 may have different
accessories attached to provide a wide variety of exercises using different
muscle groups
while only having to use one machine. By way of example only a long bar with a
first
10 end and a second end and having removable resistance members 30 at the
first and
second ends may be attached to the attachment zone 38 on both sides of the
adjustable
support member 12 so as mimic a kayak paddle. While the removable resistance
members 30 provide resistance similar to the paddle going through the water,
the long
bar provides support to the user similar to the paddle. Furthermore a wide
variety of
exercises may be attempted, for example triceps roll downs, curls, and
assisted sit-ups
may be safely attempted by users with varying skill and fitness.
Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. All such
modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of
the
invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
