Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EXERCISE APPARATUS
The present invention relates to apparatus for use in exercise routines, and
in particular
for the legs and abdomen.
Various forms of exercise apparatus are commonly known for use in exercising
various
parts of the human body, for example, for enhanced level of fitness and body
toning.
This includes exercise apparatus for exercising the human legs and abdomen and
a
wide variety of such generally complex apparatus is commonly available in
public and
private gymnasiums.
It has also become increasingly popular to exercise within the domestic
environment
for possibly more efficient, time-saving and cost effective exercise routines.
However, much of the known exercise apparatus is not generally suited to a
domestic
environment and can prove unnecessarily complex and bulky such that known
apparatus is not readily stored in a space-saving and tidy manner when not in
use.
Various forms of leg and abdomen exercise apparatus include frame structures
which
are bulky, not readily disassembled and can prove unsightly when used and
stored
within a domestic environment.
The present invention seeks to provide for exercise apparatus, particularly
for the
abdomen and/or legs, having advantages over known such apparatus.
In particular, the present invention seeks to provide for exercise apparatus,
such as for
the abdomen and/or legs and which is relatively simple in structure and
operation and
also for maintenance purposes, whilst nevertheless enhancing the range and
nature of
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the exercise routines available to different users and which, as a further
advantage, can
prove particularly compact and relatively easily stored when not in use.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided exercise
apparatus
comprising a backrest pivotally coupled in a region of a first end to a
support and
resiliently biased to extend in an at least partially upward direction
therefrom, a legrest
pivotally coupled in a region of a first end to the said support and
resiliently biased to
extend in an at least partially upward direction the said support being
arranged for
stable location of the apparatus on a floor, and the apparatus further being
arranged to
present a seat portion for a user in the region of the said first ends of the
backrest and
the legrest.
Through the provision of such a floor-mountable and stable exercise apparatus
presenting both resiliently biased back and legrests which, if required, can
pivot in a
jack-knife manner, the apparatus of the present invention advantageously
provides for a
simple, compact and readily stored apparatus for providing a full scope of
exercises
relevant to the abdomen and/or legs.
As may be required, the apparatus can be simply moved from its position of use
and
stored as required.
Preferably, the backrest can be arranged to extend at an angle to the said
legrest.
It should be appreciated that, in order to assist storage, at least one of the
backrests and
the legrests can, if required, be moved, and held in a position, against any
resilience
arising within the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the backrest and legrest can be arranged to pivot about a
common
fulcrum.
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In such a manner, the backrest and legrest can advantageously be resiliently
and
pivotally coupled together with the pivot coupling being mounted to the said
support.
In accordance with another arrangement, each of the backrest and the legrest
is
resiliently pivotally coupled to the support and extend partially upwardly, in
at least
slightly different directions therefrom and/or from different locations
thereon.
The seat portion can advantageously be located between the respective first
ends of the
backrest and legrest.
As will be appreciated, from a side view the backrest and legrest of the
present
invention can extend upwardly in a generally V-shaped configuration.
Preferably, the support includes handles to be gripped by a user during an
exercise
routine. The handles can comprise a pair of handles extending from respective
sides of
the said support, and preferably in the region of the seat portion.
In one arrangement, the seat portion can be provided for the user solely by
way of the
adjacent first ends of the backrest and the legrests.
In accordance with another embodiment, and particularly where the backrest and
the
legrests are pivotally coupled to the support, an upwardly facing portion of
the support
between the said first ends of the backrest and the legrest can comprise a
seat portion
for the apparatus.
Also, such a region of support can be provided with an appropriate cushion as
required.
In particular, if a cushion member is provided on the back rest, it can
advantageously
comprise at least one roller cushion member arranged to take during use the
apparatus
so as to ease the manner in which the user's back can move relative to the
backrest.
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Any appropriate cushion means can be provided on one particular embodiment
employing an arcuate cradle supporting aligned pairs of roller cushions.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the seat portion is
presented at a
raised location above the floor upon which the apparatus is to be supported.
Advantageously, the pivotal connection of each of the back and legrests is
such that
each can be pivoted against the resilient bias at least to a substantially
horizontal
position.
Preferably, the said backrest and the legrest can be pivoted against the
resilient bias to a
position beyond horizontal such that each slopes downwardly away from the seat
portion.
Through the provision of such a range of pivotal motion, the apparatus, while
retaining
its compact and efficient construction, can advantageously provide for a wide
range of
possible exercises.
As will be appreciated, the legrest is arranged to provide support under the
back of a
user's thigh.
In one particular advantageous embodiment, each of the backrest and the
legrest can
pivot independently of the other with respect to each other, and/or with
respect to the
support. It should of course be appreciated that the backrest and legrest can
be
provided in any appropriate configuration, made from any appropriate material
as
required with regard to aspect of weight and comfort of the apparatus.
That is, the backrest and the legrest can comprise generally flat solid
members, or can
comprise frame members with, for example, webbing therebetween for support for
a
user's back and legs. Alternatively, the frame members can include appropriate
cushion members which, if required, can be movable relative to the frame
members.
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According to one particular advantageous embodiment, the backrest comprises an
arm
member pivotally engaged in a resilient manner to the said support and
presenting a
cushion pad for contact with a user's back. The cushion pad is advantageously
mounted to the arm member in a movable manner such that its position on the
arm
member can be readily adjusted to best to suit the user.
Further, the legrest can comprise at least one central longitudinal arm and
with leg
support means extending laterally either side thereof.
Advantageously, the leg support means comprise cushion members which, if
required,
can be arranged to move relative to the central longitudinal arm(s).
Preferably, the relative movement of the cushion support members is in a
rotatable
manner so as to rotate as a user's legs are moved relative thereto generally
either when
climbing onto or off the apparatus and/or when using the same.
Advantageously, respective first and second pairs of the said support members
are
provided in a manner spaced in the longitudinal direction of the said central
arm(s).
It will of course be appreciated that these laterally support members are
arranged to
engage under different parts of a user's legs. The said laterally extending
support
members are advantageously removably mounted to the longitudinal arm(s) such
that
their location on the said arm(s) and can be adjusted as required for comfort
of the user.
The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with
reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an exercise apparatus according to one
embodiment
of the present invention;
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Fig. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 but when in use and once
having had
the backrest and legrest pivoted against the bias to their maximum extent;
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of an exercise apparatus according to, another
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a similar view of the apparatus of Fig. 3 but when in use and once
having had
the backrest and legrest pivoted against the bias to their maximum extent;
Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration similar to that represented by Fig. 3 but
showing the
position of a user's body when located on the apparatus;
Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration similar to that of Fig. 4 but, as with Fig.
5, again
showing the position of a user's body during an exercise routine and with the
apparatus
in the position as shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of apparatus according to another embodiment of
the
present invention; and
Figs. 8 - 10 provide three views of another embodiment of the present
invention.
Turning now to the drawings reference is first made to Fig. 1 which comprises
a
schematic side illustration of exercise apparatus according to one embodiment
of the
present invention.
The exercise apparatus 10 arranged for exercising the abdomen and legs
includes a
floor mounted support 12 having feet 14, 16 for stable location of the
apparatus 10 on a
floor surface (not shown).
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The support 12 is also connected to a resilient biasing element 18 operatively
coupled
to a partially upwardly extending backrest 20 and legrest 22.
The backrest 20 and legrest 22 are therefore effectively coupled together in a
resiliently
biased manner such that the backrest 20 is biased in the direction of arrow A
and
legrest 22 is biased in the direction of arrow B.
It is in such an orientation that a user would generally mount the apparatus
effectively
sitting so that their back is supported by backrest 20 and the under-region of
their
thighs is supported by the legrest 22.
The region of the adjacent ends of the backrest 20 and legrest 22 in the
region of the
fulcrum of the pivotal connection 18 thereby generally forms a seat region for
the user.
In use, and once the user is sitting in the apparatus 10 as indicated above,
each of the
backrest 20 and the legrest 22 can be pivoted in a direction opposite to
arrows A, B
respectively, and against the biasing force biasing means 18.
In this manner, the user can execute an exercise routine working both their
abdomen
and leg muscles. As a particular advantage, the point of pivotal connection of
the
backrest 20 and legrest 22 is raised from the floor surface upon which the
apparatus 10
is located such that, when each of the backrest 20 and legrest 22 are pivoted
against the
biasing force by the user to their maximum extent, i.e. in the direction of
arrows C in
Fig. 2, each of the backrest 20 and legrest 22 effectively extend downwardly
from the
seat region so as to advantageously provide a full extent to the exercise
routine
performed by the user.
Such configuration as illustrated in Fig. 2 allows for advantageous full
stretching of the
user during the exercise routine.
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Turning now to Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the
present
invention in schematic side view.
Turning first to Fig. 3, the exercise apparatus 24 comprises a support frame
26 to which
each of a backrest 28 and legrest 30 are pivotally connected, at separate
points, and in a
resilient manner so as to urge each of the backrest 28 and the legrest 30 in
the
directions illustrated by arrows A and B respectively.
In this illustrated example, the support frame 26 can also provide a handle 32
to be
gripped by a user during an exercise routine.
As will be appreciated, the general mode of operation of the exercise
apparatus is
similar to that illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 although, in the
embodiment of
Figs. 3 and 4, the support 26 provides an upper surface 33 of the support 26
provides a
seat portion, which can be readily cushioned, between the adjacent ends of the
backrest
28 and legrest 30.
The pivoting of each of the backrest 28 and legrest 30 is likewise generally
achieved by
way of different fulcrum allowing pivoting motion against the biasing force
beyond the
horizontal and to the position as illustrated in Fig. 4. By way of the
pivoting motion of
the backrest 28 and legrest 30 in the directions of arrows C, is again
advantageously
possible to enhance the exercise regime available to a user.
The nature of the exercise routine is illustrated further with reference to
Figs. 5 and 6
and which show the position of the human body at the two extremes of the
exercise
routine that can be conducted by way of the apparatus as illustrated in Figs.
3 and 4.
As will be appreciated the repetitive pivoting motion in the direction of the
arrows of
Fig. 5 of each of the backrest 28 and legrest 30 serves to provide for an
effective
exercise regime for both the user's abdomen and leg muscles.
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Turning now to Fig. 7, there is provided an illustration of a further
embodiment of the
present invention and which is configured particularly with the comfort of the
user in
mind.
The embodiment of Fig. 7 comprises a "jack knife" exercise apparatus 34 of
similar
intended operation to the preceding embodiments. The apparatus has a cushioned
seat
36, upon which the user has to sit to an exercise routine, and extending
generally
upwardly adjacent the portion of that seat 36 is a backrest arm 38 having
removably
mounted cushion pad 40 located approximately at the other end thereof.
It should be appreciated that the position of the cushion pad 40 on the arm 38
can be
varied as required and so as to suit the height and generally the length of
the back of
the user so as to optimise comfort of the apparatus during use.
Extending from a region on the opposite side of the seat 36 is a pair of
central legrest
arms 42 having first 44a, 44b and second 46a, 46b respective pairs of
cylindrical leg
support cushions extending laterally either side thereof.
As will be appreciated, and particularly from consideration from the preceding
embodiments, in use it is intended that a user sit on the seat portion 36 with
their back
resting against the cushion pad 40 and their legs extending upwardly such that
the
underside thereof engage with the cylindrical cushion pads 44A, 44B; 46A, 46B.
Again, and for consistency with the preceding embodiments, each of the arms
38, 42 is
pivotally mounted, in a resilient manner, to a small ground support frame 48
having
generally parallel side bars 50A, 50B terminating in four leg members 52-58
having,
for example, rubber feet 60 (two of which are illustrated in Fig. 7) so as to
provide
secure location of the apparatus upon a floor in a manner to prevent the
sliding thereof
from the floor surface, and also in a manner of preventing damage and/or
marking of
the floor.
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Extending from each of the parallel side bars 50A, 50B is a pair of handles
62A, 62B
which, as required, can be griped by a user when performing an exercise
routine on the
apparatus 34.
In this illustrated embodiment, each of the arms 38, 42 is pivotally engaged
with the
frame support 48 in a resilient manner by way of a coil spring 64 (only one of
which is
visible in Fig. 7) and which is advantageously of a suitable strength so as to
provide a
strong return force for the arms 38, 42 to the position shown in Fig. 7.
In use, it will therefore be appreciated that the user sits on the seat
portion 36 with their
back resting against the cushion pad 40 and with their legs extending upward
in a
manner generally aligned with the legrest arm 42 such that the undersides of
their legs
are supported by the cylindrical cushions 44A, 44B; 46A, 46B.
When sat on the apparatus 34 in this manner, the user can advantageously
perform a
variety of exercise routines.
For example, the legs can remain generally stationary as supported by the
cylindrical
cushions 44A, 44B; 46A, 46B and the user can perform a sit-up type exercise
routine
by moving the backrest 38 in a counter clockwise direction as presented in
Fig. 7 and
against the resilient biasing of the backrest arm 38.
Alternatively, the user's back remain generally stationary and the legs can be
worked
by way of an exercise routine generally serving work against the resilient
bias provided
by the spring 48 so as to move the arm(s) 42 in a generally clockwise
direction against
the biasing of that spring member 36.
Yet further, an exercise routine can be employed in which both the back and
legs are
moved in a reciprocal manner downwardly against the resilient biasing of the
arms 38,
42, and then again upwardly as such biasing serves to return the arms 38, 42
to the
position shown in Fig. 7.
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It should be appreciated that in the embodiment of Fig. 7, the central arm 42
of the
legrest actually comprises two separate parallel arms, the first having the
cylindrical
cushions 44A, 46A extending therefrom, and the second having the cylindrical
cushions 44B, 46B extending therefrom.
In this manner, and with each central legrest having its own separate
resilient biasing
arrangement, each of the user's legs can be exercised in a alternating manner
through
movement of either arm against the aforementioned spring bias in a clockwise
direction
as presented by Fig. 7.
It should also be noted that the ease and comfort with which the apparatus can
be
employed is particularly enhanced through the provision of the cylindrical
cushions
44A, 44B; 46A, 46B which are rotatably mounted to the central arm 42.
Each of the cushions 44A, 44B; 46A, 46B therefore serves to rotate if required
during
an exercise routine and so as to compensate for any relative movement between
the
user's legs and the legrest arms 42.
As noted, the position of each of the cylindrical cushions 44A, 44B; 46A, 46B
along
the longitudinal extent of the legrest arms 42 can be adjusted and varied as
required so
as to compensate for use of the apparatus by users of different size and
having different
leg lengths.
Also, one and the same user might also wish to adjust the position from which
the
cylindrical cushions 44A, 44B; 46A, 46B extend from the central arm 42
depending on
the exercise routine being conducted.
The handles 62A, 62B provide an ergonomically located means by which the
apparatus
can be gripped by the user during an exercise routine so as to enhance the
manner in
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which the core muscles of the user's body are exercised and to enhance
stability of the
apparatus.
Turning now to Figs 8 - 10, there are provided respectively side perspective
and side
elevational views of a further embodiment of the present invention and each
employing
consistent reference numerals.
As with the preceding embodiments, the exercise apparatus 66 includes a
backrest arm
68 and a leg rest arm 70 both arranged for pivotal motion relative to a seat
portion. In
this embodiment, the leg rest arm 70 includes a single pair of roller cushions
72 for
engaging with the underside of a user's legs during use. Turning to be back
rest arm 68,
this is provided with an arcuate cradle arrangement 74 having respective pairs
of roller
cushions 76, 78 rotatably mounted at the end thereof.
As is best seen from Figs 9 and 10, the arcuate cradle arrangement 74 is
adjustably
mounted to the backrest arm 68 by means of a securing pin 80 such that the
height at
which the arcuate cradle arrangement 74 is located on the back rest arm 68 can
be
adjusted to suit different users through movement in the direction of arrow D.
Importantly with this embodiment, the pairs of cushions 76, 78 are attached
with to the
cradle arrangement before so as to ease the manner with which he uses back can
move
relative to be backrest arm 68 during use. If required, the arms of the
arcuate cradle
arrangement 74 can also be a pivotally mounted, preferably a resilient manner,
to be
backrest arm 68 so as to move during use in the manner indicated by arrow E in
Fig.
10.
With regard to the particular illustrated embodiment of Figs 8 - 10, reference
is now
made to further optional, but particularly advantageous, features of the
present
invention. First, and as with the Fig 7 embodiment, it should be appreciated
that the leg
rest arm 70 can in fact be formed by two separately pivotally mounted left and
right leg
rests for cooperation with a user's left and right legs respectively. In one
arrangement,
securing means can be provided so as to secure the left and right leg rest
arms together
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to function as a unitary member although, as noted, disengagement between the
two,
allows for reciprocal/alternating movement so that a user can exercise each
leg in turn
or, indeed, if required to concentrate exercises on one particular leg.
Further, and as with all embodiments of the present invention, the leg rest
member(s)
can be mounted four resilient pivotal motion by means of a resiliently mounted
intermediate connecting member to which the leg rest member(s) can be
releaseably
engaged for example by way of a connecting pin or otherwise. The position of
the leg
rest member(s) relative to the intermediate connecting member can
advantageously be
selectively varied, from example by removal/replacement of the connecting pin
with
one of a series of engagement formations such that the direction of extension
of the leg
rest member(s) when "at rest" can be selectively varied as required. As an
example,
such engagement formations of the intermediate connecting member can comprise
a
series of apertures arrange to receive the connecting pin. Indeed, in one
particular
example, such selected variation of the direction to which the leg rest
member(s)
extend can include a substantially horizontal direction such that, for
example, the
cushions 46A, 46B of Fig 7, and the cushions 72 of Fig. 8 form anchor points
under
which a user can secure their at least partially extended legs so as to assist
with a "sit-
up" type exercise routine using pivotal movement of the backrest as required.
In any case, it should of course be appreciated that the invention is not
restricted to the
details of the foregoing embodiments.
That is, any appropriate support arrangement can be divided for the floor-
mounting of
the apparatus and for the generally upwardly extending support of the backrest
and
legrest. Also, the backrest and legrest can be made from any appropriate
material
depending upon the requirements of comfort, cost and weight. Also, the means
for
providing the resilient bias to each of the backrest and the legrest can be
provided in
any appropriate manner whether by way of any appropriate spring configuration
or
otherwise.
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As will be appreciated, when not in use, and under full influence of the
biasing means,
as illustrated in the drawings, the backrest and legrest generally adopt a V-
shaped
configuration which, through use during an exercise routine, can be moved into
and out
of a jack-knife configuration. A compact storage configuration of the
apparatus can
also be achieved through manipulation of the backrest and legrest.
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