US20030050156A1

US20030050156A1 - Exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20030050156A1
Application number: US09/949,544
Authority: US
Inventors: Dean Tornabene
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-10
Filing date: 2001-09-10
Publication date: 2003-03-13

Abstract

An exercise apparatus that exercises at least four groups of muscles is disclosed. The apparatus exercises the hamstring muscle, the quadriceps muscle, the maximus gluteus muscle and the abdominal muscle. The apparatus uses a seated position for the person exercising and incorporates elastomeric tension members to provide the resistance. The exercise apparatus incorporates a backrest and a footrest.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an exercise apparatus and more particularly the present invention is directed to an exercise apparatus that will exercise at least four groups of muscles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many devices exist for exercising various parts of the body for commercial and home use. Some of these devices are:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,016 B1 to Johnson Kuo.

This exercise apparatus exercises only the abdominal muscles.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,425 to Gvoich et al.

This exercise apparatus describes a device where a person lays on their back and pushes two levers up with their arms.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,741 to Robert Fan.

This exercise apparatus simulates horse riding and rowing type exercises.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,013 to W. R. Dofel.

This exercise device provides a mechanical resistance assembly which employs a resistant strap which is stretched by use of a pulley system pulled by the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,450 to Steams.

This exercise machine provides for abdominal exercising. This machine also allows a chest pod to rotate, which is resisted by either a viscous fluid resistance or stacked weights.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,287 to Brewer.

This exercise apparatus employs a resistance that is experienced by a person exerting a force to pull or push the body engagement members. The resistance can be varied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus to exercise four groups of muscles.

It is another object of the present invention to exercise the abdominal muscles, the hamstring muscles, the maximus gluteus muscles and the quadriceps muscles.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus that can be efficiently and economically manufactured.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention there is provided an exercise apparatus that has a rectangular seat which is attached to a main rectangular member. The main rectangular member has fitted therein a rectangular footrest member having a attached thereto a tee footrest. The rectangular footrest member is longitudinally adjustable for different torsos sliding in the main rectangular member. The seat is also adjustable along the main rectangular member to adjust to different physical dimensions of an exerciser. The backrest is fastened to a backrest member that has an adjustable headrest on the upper end. Fastened to the bottom end of the backrest member are hand holds on each side. The backrest member is hinged to a link member on one end and the link member is hinged to an extension of the main rectangular member on the other end. The main rectangular member is divided into two members, terminating at a cross member fastened at the end of the two members. Fastened to the end of two members is a rod extending outward where one end of an elastomeric fitted on the rod, the other end of the elastomeric being fastened to a rod extending outward and attached to each side of the backrest member. Also attached to the upper side of the back rest member is a rod having attached thereto two flexible Webs have hand grips on one end to assist the exercise when performing the various exercises.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon detail consideration of the following Description of the Preferred Embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present invention. [0022]
FIG. 2 is a left side view of the present invention. [0023]
FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention. [0024]
FIG. 4 is a right side view of the present invention. [0025]
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the present invention. [0026]
FIG. 6 shows the present invention configured to provide abdominal exercises. [0027]
FIG. 7 shows the present invention configured to provide leg exercises. [0028]
FIG. 8 shows the present invention in a folded position for storage.[0029]
The nominal features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as its organization and its method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. [0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to FIG. 1 there is seen an exercise apparatus generally shown as [0031] 10. The exercise apparatus 10 has a backrest 12 and a seat 14. The backrest 12 and seat 14 are made from a hard material such as wood or fiberglass covered by foam material and having an outside cover of waterproof material. The seat is attached to a main rectangular member 16 and the seat 14 is adjustable along the main rectangular member 16 to account for different physical dimensions of an exerciser. The push pin 15, as seen in FIG. 2 is provided for the longitudinal adjustment of the seat. The main rectangular member 16 has fitted thereon a rectangular footrest member (as seen FIG. 2 as 18) having attached thereto a tee configured footrest 20. The rectangular footrest member 18 is longitudinally adjustable by sliding inside the main rectangular member 16. This adjustment allows for various physical dimensions of the exerciser. The longitudinal adjustments for the footrest 20 is provided by pushpins 22 in the main rectangular member 16. The footrest 20 also folds down toward the rectangular member 16 utilizing a hinge provided by hinge pin 24. FIG. 1 also shows handles 26 and 28 that the exerciser holds with their hands when performing the leg exercises. This configuration is more readily shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 1 shows the extension of the main rectangular member 16 ending at cross member 30 that is provided for stability. Attached to the cross member 30 is a link bracket 32 that has pivoting means on one end for link member 34. The pivoting means is provided by pivot pin 36.
Turning now to FIG. 2 there is seen a left side view of the present invention. In this view there is seen the [0032] backrest 12 having a backrest member 37 with a headrest member 38 that slides in backrest member 37. The headrest member 38 has brackets 40 attached thereon and contains a circular padded headrest 42 which is covered with a waterproof material. The headrest 42 is adjustable by the headrest member 38 fitting into backrest member 37 and utilizing adjustment means 44. Also seen in this view is tension member 46. Tension member 46 fits on rods 48 and 50. The tension member 46 is held on rods 48 and 50 by retaining means which in this case are push pins 52 and 54. Also seen in FIG. 2 is a link bracket 35 that has pivoting means on one end for link member 34. The pivoting means is provided by pivot pin 39. Also in bracket 35 is locking pin 41. This locking pin 41 prevents the bracket 12 from rotating past a certain point as the locking pin 41 engages the link member 34 when the exerciser is performing the leg exercises. This condition is seen in FIG. 7. It should be noted that the present invention is supplied with a series of tension members having various tensions that can be fitted to the requirements of an exerciser. The tension members in the present invention are elastomerics. FIG. 2 also shows a bar 48 that is attached to headrest member 38. The flexible straps 52 and 54 are attached to bar 48.
FIG. 3 shows the [0033] headrest 42 and headrest member 48 with other exercise apparatus members that are described in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 also shows footrest 20, seat 14, handles 26 and 28 and cross member 30. FIG. 3 shows the flexible straps 52 and 54 that have hand grips 56 and 58. The hand grips 52 and 58 assist the exerciser when performing the various exercises, specifically the abdominal exercises.
FIG. 4 shows a right side view of the present invention. It is essentially mirror of the present invention shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows the [0034] flexible straps 54 and hand grips 58. Also seen in FIG. 4 is tension member 60 fitted on rods 62 and 64. The tension member 60 is held on rods 62 and 64 by retaining means 66 and 68 which in this case are push pins.
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the present invention. FIG. 5 provides a good view of the two [0035] tension members 46 and 60. FIG. 5 also shows that bracket 35 is attached to main rectangular member 16. Bracket 35 also holds rods 50 and 64.
FIG. 6 is a view showing how the present is used to provide abdominal exercises. The exerciser sits on [0036] seat 14, places the back on backrest 12, places the feet on footrest 20, places the head on headrest 42, places the hands on hand grips 56 and 58 (not shown) and pulls forward with the hands and arms. This provides a resistance by tension members 46 and 60 (not shown) and the abdominal muscles are exercised. The exerciser relaxes and the tension member pulls the exerciser back to the original position. The exerciser repeats this movement until a complete abdominal exercise is accomplished.
FIG. 7 is a view showing how the present invention is used to provide leg exercises, namely, the hamstring muscles, the quadriceps muscle and the maximus gluteus muscle. The exerciser sits on [0037] seat 14, places the feet on footrest 20, places the back on backrest 12, places the head on headrest 42, places the hands on hand grips 26 and 28 (not shown) and pushes back with the back on the backrest 12 which lifts the exerciser's rear off the seat 14. The linking member 34 will rotate upward and locking pin 41 will present backrest 12 from rotating further since the locking pin 41 engages linking pin 34. This movement will in turn provide a resistance in tension members 46 and 60 (not shown) and exercise the leg muscles. The exercises relaxes and the tension members 46 and 60 will allow the exerciser to sit back on seat 14. The exerciser repeats this movement until a complete leg exercise is accomplished.
FIG. 8 shows the present invention in a collapsed position for storage. [0038]
The present invention includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although, this invention has been described in its [0039]
The present invention includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although, this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularly, it is understood that the present disclosure of this preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. [0040]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise apparatus for exercising at least the hamstring muscle, the quadriceps muscle, the maximus gluteus muscle, and the abdominal muscle comprising:

a padded backrest having a front side and a back side;

a headrest member attached to said backside of said backrest, said headrest member having a top end and a bottom end;

a circular headrest adjustably attached to said top end of said backrest member;

two handles, one of each side attached to said bottom end of said headrest member;

a circular bar attached to the back side of said headrest member;

two flexible straps having a top end and a bottom end, said top end being attached to said circular bar, said bottom end having hand holds attached thereto;

a frame assembly having a front end and a back end, said front end having a footrest attached and said back end having a cross member attached, said cross member providing stability;

a padded seat attached to the top of said frame assembly.

2. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said cross member of said frame assembly has a hinge bracket attached thereto.

3. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said bottom end of said headrest member has a hinge bracket attached thereto.

4. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said exercise apparatus has a link member, said link member having a front end and a back end, said front end of said link member being attached by hinge pin to said hinge bracket, which is further attached to said headrest member.

5. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said back end of said link member is attached by a hinge pin to said hinge bracket which is further attached to said cross member of said frame assembly.

6. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said frame assembly has a rod bracket attached thereto, said rod bracket having a rod there through, said rod having two ends with securing means on each end of said rod.

7. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said headrest member has a rod bracket attached thereto, said rod bracket having a rod there through, said rod having two ends with securing means on each end of said rod.

8. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said securing means is a spring biased pin through a hole in said rod.

9. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 7 where said securing means is a spring biased pin through a hole in said rod.

10. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said rod having an elastomeric attached to each end of said rod, said elastomeric secured on each end by said securing means.

11. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said rod having an elastomeric attached to each end of said rod, said elastomeric secured on each end by said securing means.

12. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said elastomeric, having a specific tension, can be replaced by an elastomeric with a different tension depending on the requirements of the person exercising.

13. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein a person exercising can sit on said seat, place their back against said backrest, place their head on said headrest, place their hands on said two handles, and place their feet on said footrest, said person exercising when pushing back against said backrest will cause the person exercising to lift off said seat, causing tension in the elastomerics and exercise the hamstring muscle, the quadriceps muscle, and the maximus gluteus muscle of said person exercising.

14. An exercise apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein a person exercising can sit on said seat, place their back against said backrest, place their head on said headrest, place their hands in said hand holes attached to said flexible straps, said person exercising can pull said flexible straps which will cause the person exercising to bend forward which will in turn provide a tension in said elastomerics thereby providing exercise to the abdominal muscle.