Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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= 1 '
Description
COLLAPSIBLE EXERCISER
This application is a divisional application of co-pending application Serial
No. 2,472,598, filed January 13, 2003.
Technical Field
The present invention is directed toward an exercising apparatus
and, more particularly, toward an apparatus that can be easily collapsed for
shipping and storage but easily erected and which allows a user to perform a
to variety of exercises. The invention is also directed to a novel adjustable
force
resistor that may be used with numerous different types of exercising
equipment.
Backaround Art
ts The benefits of exercise and particularly weight bearing exercise
are well known. Such exercises are not only good for one's general overall
health and appearance but help to build muscle and supporting tissue in order
to
protect bones and joints from injury particularly as one ages. Different
muscle
groups, of course, require different exercises. That is, no one particular
weight
2o bearing exercise is capable of developing all of the muscles in a person's
body.
While simple exercises such as push-ups or sit-ups or squats can
be performed by a person in his or her home or in substantially any location,
most other exercises required for exercising other muscle groups require
weights or exercise apparatus or machines. Since different exercises are
25 required with different muscle groups, this normally would also require the
use of
various pieces of exercise equipment. This, of course, is not a problem at a
gym
or other location where substantial space is available for the various pieces
of
equipment that would be needed. Furthermore, the costs that are involved are
justified since the equipment would be used by numerous people.
30 Most people, however, do not have the space at home that would
be needed for numerous pieces of equipment. Equipment has, therefore, been
designed which is capable of allowing a user to perform numerous different
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types of weight bearing exercises. This equipment, however, is frequently
somewhat complex and requires substantial assembly by the user.
While it may be possible to ship such prior art systems in more
fully assembled forms, this significantly increases the cost of shipping and,
therefore, the cost of the equipment to the user. There has, therefore, been a
continuing need in the industry for an exercise apparatus which is capable of
allowing a user to perform various types of exercises and which can be
significantly collapsed for shipping or storage but easily and readily
assembled
io by the user when it is desired to utilize the same.
As is also well known in the art, exercise machines allow a user to
perform weight bearing exercises and which are frequently referred to as
weight
machines use one of two common systems for providing the force or weight.
The first is referred to as a weight stack which includes a plurality of
weights
stacked on top of each other. One or more of these weights can be connected to
a cable for vertical movement which cable is linked to a movable element such
as a movable arm by way of a linkage system such as cables and pulley
mechanisms. The amount of weight is adjusted by selecting the number of
weight elements to be connected to the cable. All of this is, of course, well
2o known in the art.
The second common type of adjustable force resistance means is
the use of a plurality of rubber bands. The rubber bands are elastomeric
elements particularly in the shape of a ring or oval or the like. A number of
such
bands are provided with each frequently having a different elastomeric force.
The bands are manually connected between a fixed frame member and a
movable element and the amount of force is selected by connecting any one or
combination of the bands between the fixed frame and the element to be
moved.
The elastomeric force resistors are the preferred system in home-
type gyms since they weigh very little and, therefore, are less expensive to
ship.
Furthermore, they take up less space than weight stacks. However, each time
the user wishes to change the force, he or she must get up from the exercise
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equipment which normally includes a seat or the like, remove the band that is
in
place and/or add an additional band. With prior art systems known to
Applicant,
however, this task, although not difficult, can be somewhat time consuming and
clearly interrupts the flow of the exercise being performed.
Frequently, when one is doing a series of exercises, he or she
wishes to gradually and relatively quickly increase or decrease the resist of
force. To Applicant's knowledge, however, there is no known system which
allows the user to quickly and easily add or subtract elastomeric elements in
io order to increase or decrease the force and particularly no such system
exists
which allows the user to do so while he or she remains seated on the exercise
equipment.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of
the prior art described above. The exercise apparatus of the invention can be
easily collapsed for shipping or storage but is easily assembled for use. The
apparatus includes an upper frame member pivotally attached to the forward
2o end of a longitudinally extending lower base frame member. The upper frame
member supports a seat including a bottom that is movable so as to be parallel
to the frame member for shipping or perpendicular for use. An elongated rod
has
one end pivoted to the upper frame member. The other end is pivoted to a
collar
that surrounds the base frame member and moves along a length thereof
between a shipping position where the frame members are parallel to each other
and an operative position where the upper frame member extends upwardly. A
pin and aperture arrangement locks the frame members in the selected position.
A pair of movable arms with handles connected to an adjustable
force resistor allows a user to perform a variety of exercises of the arms and
upper body. The force resistor includes a plurality of elastic elements
mounted
for pivotal movement between operative and inoperative positions so that any
combination of the elements can be used. As will be apparent to those skilled
in
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the art, the novel force resistor of the invention can be easily adapted to
substantially any exercise equipment that requires the use of a force
resistor.
Squats can also be performed by the user placing his feet on foot
s support blocks located at the rear of the apparatus, grasping the movable
arms
and extending his legs against the force of the force resistor.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the
accompanying drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being
understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a collapsible exerciser
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and
show
in its collapsed form for shipping or storage;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the exercise machine of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 but showing
the exerciser being erected for use;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken through the line 4-4 of
Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an exploded view of a portion of the device showing a
center cushion being attached to the movable arms;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view with portions broken away
illustrating the operation of a part of the force resistor means;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 6 showing the
operation of a support means for maintaining the movable arms in an accessible
position;
Figure 8 is a top plan view of a portion of Figure 1 showing the
movable arms being assembled for use;
Figure 9 is a front elevational view illustrating a user of the
equipment doing leg squats;
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Figure 10 is a perspective of a first embodiment of a force resistor
useful with the exercise apparatus;
Figure 11 is an exploded view similar to Figure 10 with portions
5 broken away illustrating the operation of a part of the force resistor
means;
Figures 12, 13, and 14 illustrate a second embodiment of a force
resistor useful with the exercise apparatus, and
Figures 15 and 16 are side elevational views illustrating the
exercise apparatus being used for performing leg squats.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference
numerals have been used in both of the figures to designate like elements,
there
is shown in each of the figures a collapsible exerciser constructed in
accordance
with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as 10.
The collapsible exerciser 10 is shown in its collapsed form in
Figure 1. This is essentially the form that it would be in when being shipped.
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus. Figure 3 is a similar side view but
illustrates the manner in which the apparatus is erected for use. Figure 2 is
an
overall top plan view which illustrates the parts of the invention.
As is perhaps best shown in Figure 2 and in the other figures such
as 8 and 9 that illustrate the exerciser 10 from the top or end thereof, it is
symmetrical from left to right along its longitudinal axis. That is, all of
the
components on the left side of the apparatus 10 are the identical mirror image
of
the components on the right side. Thus, while the following description may,
in
many cases, describe only one side of the apparatus, it should be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art that the other side is constructed in
essentially the same manner.
The exerciser 10 is comprised essentially of a frame which
includes an upper frame member 12 and a lower base frame member 14. The
lower base frame member 14 extends longitudinally along the center of the
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apparatus and has a forward end 16 and a rearward end 18. In order to adjust
the length of the lower base frame member 14, the forward end 16 includes a
tubular member 20 having a square cross section which telescopes into a
slightly larger square-shaped tube 22. The tube 20 is telescoped into the tube
22
for shipping and storage as shown in Figure 1 and is extended forwardly for
support when the apparatus is erected as shown in Figure 3. Figure 2
illustrates
both positions.
In order to provide stability to the lower base frame member 14, a
io crossbar 24 is secured to the forwardmost end of the tubular member 20. A
pair
of rubber caps 26 and 28 are connected to the ends of the bar 24 in order to
provide feet for supporting the same on the ground or floor 30.
The rearward end 18 of the lower base frame member 14 is also
constructed of an elongated tube 32 of square or rectangular cross section.
The
rearwardmost end of the tube 32 also carries a crossbar 34 which extends
across the width of the apparatus 10 in order to provide stability for the
lower
base frame member 14 at the rear thereof. The rear crossbar 34, however, also
includes a foot supporting surface 36 which is inclined at approximately 450
and
which is capable of supporting a user's foot as shown in Figures 15 and 16 in
such a way that the user's body is also inclined at approximately the same
angle
in the other direction with the person's toes resting on the floor 30. The
purpose
for this will be described in more detail hereinafter. A friction pad 38 made
of
rubber or the like is mounted to the bottom of the crossbar 34 in order to
support
the same on the floor 30.
The upper frame member 12 has its lowermost end 40 pivoted to
the forward end of a lower base frame member 14 at 42. This allows the upper
frame member to be movable between an inoperative, collapsed position as
shown in Figure 1 wherein it is substantially parallel to the lower base frame
member 14 and an erect, operative position as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 also
shows an intermediate position of the upper frame member 12 in phantom.
The upper frame member 12 is guided between the two positions
described above through the use of an elongated rod 44 which also helps to
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maintain the upper frame member 12 in its selected position. The upper or left
end 46 (as viewed in Figure 3) of the rod 44 is pivotally attached to the
upper
frame member 12 at point 48 through a tab 50 that extends rearwardly behind
the upper frame member 12. The lowermost end 52, i.e. the right hand end, of
the rod 44 is similarly pivoted at point 54 to a tab on a sleeve 56 that
surrounds
and is longitudinally slidable on the elongated tube 32 forming part of the
lower
base frame member 14. As best shown in Figure 3, as the sleeve moves
rearwardly or forwardly, the upper frame member 12 pivots between its
io lowermost collapsed position and its erect position.
In order to fix the sleeve 56 in its desired position along the length
of the elongated tubular member 32, the sleeve is provided with an aperture or
opening 58 in the side wall thereof (see Fig. 4) while the tubular member 32
may
be provided with a plurality of corresponding holes such as shown at 60 in
is Figure 4. As should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, one of
the
holes 60 will be located adjacent the rearward end of the tubular member 32
and
a number of similar holes will be located adjacent the forward end thereof.
When
the sleeve 56 and, therefore, the upper frame member 12 are in their desired
position, a pin 62 having a knob handle 64 is inserted through the aligned
20 openings to lock the sleeve in its desired position as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4
also illustrates the point made above concerning the left to right symmetry of
the
present invention. Although reference has been made to a single elongated rod
44 connected to the upper frame member 12, as shown in Figure 4, it is
actually
a pair of rods 44 and 44a connected to a pair of upper frame members 12 and
25 12a as can be seen in Figure 2.
In some cases, it may be desirable to eliminate the sleeve 56 and
provide a means for simply separating and removing the upper frame member
12 from the lower base frame member 14 for storage. This can be done by
fabricating the lower ends 40 of the upper frame member 12 and the lowermost
3o ends of the rods 44 and 44a in the form of pins and mounting complimentary
sockets on the front end of the tube 22 and on an intermediate point of the
tube
32. The upper frame member 12 can then be attached to the base frame
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member 14 by simply inserting the appropriate pins into the corresponding
sockets. Locking means such as thumb screws or the like can be provided on
the sockets for preventing accidental removal of the upper frame member 12
s from the base frame member 14.
Seat 66 is mounted to the upper frame member 12. The seat 66
includes a seat bottom 68 and a seat back 70. The seat bottom 68 is pivoted to
the upper frame member 12 through the use of a bracket 72 having a plurality
of
holes 74 therein. These holes 74 are alignable with a similar hole (not shown)
in
io the upper frame member 12 through which a locking pin 76 can be inserted.
This allows the seat bottom 68 to be moved as desired and locked in place
between an inoperative position as shown in Figure 1 wherein it is
substantially
parallel to the upper frame member 12 and an operative position as shown in
Figure 3 where it is substantially perpendicular to the frame member 12
thereby
15 permitting a user to sit thereon while facing forwardly. The additional
hole 74
may also allow for additional angular positions of the seat bottom 68.
The seat back 70 is similarly pivotally secured to the upper frame
member 12 adjacent the top thereof through the use of a frame 78 having a
plate 80 with a plurality of holes 82 therein. The seat back 70 can be pivoted
2o about the top of the upper frame member 12 and locked in place utilizing a
pin
84 that passes through a corresponding hole in the upper frame member 12
when the seat back is pivoted into its desired position. As should be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, the position shown in Figure 3 is the
operative position allowing a user to sit on the seat bottom 68 and lean back
25 onto the seat back 70. The seat back 70, on the other hand, can be pivoted
approximately 120 into the position shown in Figures 9, 15 and 16 to underlie
a
person doing squats from the rear of the exercise apparatus 10.
In order to perform various types of exercises, the apparatus 10 is
provided with a pair of movable arms 102 and 102a. Since these two arms are
30 substantially identical to each although mirror images, only one will be
described
in detail. It being understood that this description applies equally of the
other two
arms.
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The arm 102 is comprised of several parts. The first is an
elongated based member 104 having its lower most end pivotally secured to the
axis 42 so as to be movable relative thereto. In its rest position, the base
arm
s member 104 extends rearwardly and slightly outwardly from the center of the
apparatus 10 as shown best in Figure 2. A relatively short hand grip member
106 is rigidly secured to the free end of the base arm member 104 and extends
at 900 outwardly away from the midline apparatus 10. One end of a secondary
arm 108 is pivotally connected at point 110 to a rotating coupling mechanism
io 112 which, in turn, is connected to the intermediate member 106. This
allows the
secondary arm 108 to move in all directions 360 with respect to the
intermediate member 106 and, thus, the base arm member 104.
As shown best in Figure 8, the forward end of the secondary arm
108 is bent inwardly toward the center line of the apparatus 10 and, as shown
in
15 Figure 3, then extends downwardly to form a handle 114. A holder in the
form of
a cup116 is also mounted for movement about the axis 42 so as to be movable
with the arm base member 104. The holder 116 can be used to store or retain
the handle 114 for shipping or storage or when the same is not needed for a
particular exercise.
20 In order to make the entire apparatus somewhat more compact for
shipping and storage purposes, the base arm member 104 of the arm 102 is
preferably comprised of two parts. As shown best in Figure 8, it is divided
into a
lower portion 120 and an upper portion 122 that are hinged together at point
124
and can be locked so as to be in alignment utilizing pin 126. This feature
makes
25 the apparatus narrower for shipping and storage purposes.
The apparatus shown in solid lines in Figure 3 illustrates the same
in its proper position so that a person can sit on the seat 66 and grasp the
handles 114 in order to exercise the upper body. The arm 102 is maintained in
this upper operative position through the use of a stop member 128 that is
3o hinged at 130 to the lower part of the base arm member 104 above the pivot
point 42. The bottom of the stop member 128 engages a cross bar 132 secured
to the frame. As shown in Figure 6, when the arm 102 is pivoted forwardly, the
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stop member 128 simply moves with it and remains at an angle of approximately
900 thereto so that when the arm is again moved backwardly, the stop member
128 engages the cross bar 132. However, when it is desired to totally lower
the
5 arm 102 for storage or shipping, the stop member can be manually pivoted
upwardly so as to be in substantial aiignment with the arm 102. The end of the
stop member 128 then clears the cross bar 132 as the arm 102 is lowered into
its lower most position as shown in Figure 1.
The exercise apparatus 10 of the invention utilizes a novel force
io resistor system for adjusting the resistive force needed to move the arms
102
and 102a relative to the frame of the apparatus. Two currently preferred novel
systems are shown in Figures 10-14. These are, of course, by way of example
only as other variations may also be possible.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 10 and 11, a
is plurality of individual rubber bands such as shown at 134 are provided.
Preferably, each of the rubber bands 134 requires a different force to extend
the
same. This can be accomplished by either making the center opening larger or
smaller or changing the composition of the material from which the bands are
made. All of this is, per se, known in the art. In any case, the lower end of
each
of the bands 134 is pivoted to a fixed pivot point 136 which, in turn, is
rigidly
secured to the base frame of the apparatus 10. In their inoperative position,
the
bands 134 lean slightly rearwardly and rest on a support bar 138. The bands
134 stay on the support bar 138 simply by gravity as they are resting
rearwardly
beyond the vertical point.
Located forwardly of the elastomeric bands 134, are a plurality of
hooks 140. These hooks are mounted so as to be freely rotatable about the axis
42. However, they are rigidly secured to the arm 102 through the lower most
part
104 thereof. That is, as the arm 102 is moved so as to rotate about the axis
42,
the hooks 140 move therewith. Although not absolutely necessary, it is also
preferred to have the arm 102 move independently of the arm 102a. Thus, one
arm can move while the other can be at rest. As will be apparent, this also
allows different forces to be applied to the different arms.
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The top free end of each of the bands 134 includes a stud 142 that
extends to both sides thereof parallel to the axis 136. When it is desired to
employ any one or combination of the bands 134, all that is necessary is for
the
user to pivot the band forwardly so that the appropriate hook 140 engages the
pin 142 as shown in Figure 11. In this position, as the arm 102 is moved, the
hook 140 also moves stretching the band 134 which creates the resistive force.
When it is desired to change the resistive force by removing one or more of
the
bands, all that is necessary is to again rotate the band upwardly and
rearwardly
io into its rest position where it is not engaged by the hook 140. As can best
be
seen from Figure 3, this can be easily accomplished while the user is sitting
on
the seat 66 by simply lowering his or her arm downwardly and behind so as to
grasp the appropriate elastomeric band 134 on either side of the apparatus.
A modified form of the force resister is shown in Figures 12-14. In
this embodiment, the bands 134 are replaced by elongated elastomeric rods 144
having hubs 146 and 148 at the ends thereof with apertures 150 and 152
passing therethrough at essentially right angles to each other as best shown
in
Figure 13. The plurality of elastomeric rods 144 are freely pivotable about
the
axle 154 between and inoperative position wherein they rest on the support 156
much like the first embodiment and an operative position such as shown at
Figure 12.
In lieu of the hooks 140, this embodiment of the invention includes
a plurality of upstanding pins 158 that are rigidly secured to a sleeve 160
that
extends about the axle 42 so as to be freely rotatable thereof. As with the
first
embodiment, the pins 158 are secured through the sleeve 162 to the arm 102 so
as to rotate therewith. When it is desired to engage one or move of the
elastomeric rods 144 and place the same in its operative position, all that is
needed is to reach back and rotate the desired element forwardly until the
opening 152 in the hub 148 fits over the top of the rod 158 as shown in
Figures
12 and 14. Stop members 162 prevent the hubs 148 from moving downwardly to
far onto the pins 158. Obviously the amount of force can be changed by
combining the various elastomeric rods 144 or by using different rods if they
are
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mode of different elastomeric strengths. Again, this can be done by either
modifying the size or shape of the rods or by modifying the materials from
which
they are made.
As should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, it is not
absolutely necessary to have each of the rods 144 pivotable about the axle
154.
Rather, the hubs 146 could be fixed relative thereto and the remainder of the
rods be "movable" by merely being flexed or bent between their inoperative and
operative positions. In such event, holding means may be provided for
1o maintaining each rod 144 in either its inoperative or operative position.
Because the arm extension 108 can move in substantially any
direction with respect to the arm base member 104, various types of upper body
exercises can be done with the user sitting on the seat 66 facing forwardly
and
grasping the handles 114. The user can also turn around facing rearwardly and
pull on the handles 114. The amount of force can be adjusted utilizing the
adjustable force resistors described above.
The apparatus 10 of the present invention can also be utilized to
perform squats and similar exercises are shown in Figures 9, 15 and 16. In
order
to perform these types of exercises, the seat back 70 is first rotated and
locked
into the position shown in Figures 15 and 16. Thereafter, a cushioned
cylindrical
pad 164 having coaxial pins 166 extending from each end thereof is placed
between the two intermediate arm portions 106 and 106a as shown in Figure 5.
This is accomplished by inserting the pins 166 into the hollow center portion
of
the intermediate sections 106 and 106a.
Employing the cylindrical cushion 164 forces the two arms 102 and
102a to move in unison with each other. This is preferable for squats and
similar
exercises. The user then positions himself as shown in solid lines in Figure
15
with his feet on the foot support 36 while grasping the intermediate arm
portions
106 and 106a with his hands. He then stands while leaning forward and pushes
the moveable arms upwardly against the force of the elastomeric force
resistors
in order to perform squats and similar exercises.
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The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and
accordingly,
reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing
specification as indicating the scope of the invention.
