Adjustable stretching apparatus

• US 10,456,613 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry Copeland
• Original Assignee: Larry Copeland
• Inventors: Copeland, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Urbiel Goldner, Gary D
• Application Number:
  US15/673,441
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 482907
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 1/00 Horizontal bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00047 Exercising devices not moving during use benches A63B21/4029; isometric exercising devices A63B21/0023; step exercisers A63B23/0458; walk exercisers A63B23/0464
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body A63B22/00 takes precedence; force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00; devices for exercising or strengthening of fingers, or arms in teaching operation of keyboards G09B15/06

Abstract

A stretching/exercising apparatus that is structured and adapted to assist a user in stretching and/or exercising various portions of his or her body is presented herein. At least a portion of the apparatus is at least partially adjustable or positionable in order to accommodate users of different heights, strengths or stretching capabilities. Specifically, one or more horizontal support posts may be height-adjusted along a main vertical post or stanchion in order to vary the configuration of the apparatus for different stretching techniques and advancement levels. The apparatus may be substantially constructed of lightweight wood or other lightweight materials, and thus easily moved or transported from one location to another.

Claims

1. A stretching apparatus, comprising:

a vertical post comprising a bottom end supported by a base;

said vertical post comprising a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, said plurality of holes being disposed along said vertical post in a vertically spaced relation to one another;

at least one horizontal support bar selectively positionable at least partially through one of said plurality of holes at a time, said at least one horizontal support bar comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

a stopper disposed at said proximal end of said at least one horizontal support bar, said stopper configured to restrict movement of said at least one horizontal support bar from being disposed completely through said each of said plurality of holes;

a plurality of fixed support bars respectively extending outward from said vertical post, each of said plurality of fixed support bars being fixedly attached to said vertical post at a position below at least two of the plurality of holes so as to allow a user to lean on one of said plurality of fixed support bars with an arm of the user extended downward while an ankle of the user rests on said at least one horizontal support bar; and

wherein said distal end of said at least one horizontal support bar is selectively disposable through one of said plurality of holes disposed along said vertical post, and said at least one horizontal support bar is positionable through said one of said plurality of holes until said stopper restricts further movement of said at least one horizontal support bar therethrough.

2. The stretching apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one horizontal support bar and/or said plurality of fixed support bars respectively comprises a gripping material disposed thereon.

3. The stretching apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said plurality of fixed support bars are at least substantially constructed of wood.

4. The stretching apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one horizontal support bar comprises a round cross-section.

5. The stretching apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said vertical post comprises a rectangular cross-section.

6. The stretching apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said vertical post at least substantially constructed of wood.

7. The stretching apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said at least one horizontal support bar is at least substantially constructed of wood.

8. The stretching apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said base is at least substantially constructed of wood.

9. A lightweight stretching apparatus, comprising:

a vertical post comprising a top end and a bottom end;

a base, said base is being attached to said bottom end of said vertical post and structured to support said vertical post in an upright position;

said vertical post comprising a plurality of holes disposed completely therethrough, each of said plurality of holes being disposed at a different height between said bottom end and said top end of said vertical post;

at least one height-adjustable support bar selectively positionable at least partially through one of said plurality of holes at a time, said at least one height-adjustable support bar being selectively positionable at least partially through a different one of said plurality of holes to adjust a height of said at least one height-adjustable support bar, said at least one height-adjustable support bar comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

a stopper disposed at said proximal end of said at least one height-adjustable support bar;

said stopper configured to restrict movement of said at least one height-adjustable support bar from being disposed completely through said plurality of holes, wherein said distal end of said at least one height-adjustable support bar is selectively disposable through one of said plurality of holes disposed along said vertical post, said at least one height-adjustable support bar being slidingly positionable through said one of said plurality of holes until said stopper restricts further movement of said at least one height-adjustable support bar therethrough;

a plurality of fixed support bars respectively extending outward from said vertical post, each of said plurality of fixed support bars being fixedly attached to said vertical post at a position below at least two of the plurality of holes;

wherein at least one of said plurality of fixed support bars is at least substantially perpendicular to and at least partially vertically offset from said at least one height-adjustable support bar when said at least one height adjustable support bar is positioned at least partially through one of said plurality of holes;

wherein a different one of said plurality of fixed support bars is at least substantially parallel to and at least partially vertically offset from said at least one height-adjustable support bar when said at least one height-adjustable support bar is positioned at least partially through one of said plurality of holes;

the substantially perpendicular fixed support bar further comprising a height above the base, the height above the base configured to be at about a height of a waist of a user and having a length configured to be about a leg length of the user as measured from an ankle of the user to the user'"'"'s waist; and

wherein the lightweight stretching apparatus is configured such that the user can stand back from the vertical post a distance that is comfortable while using the substantially perpendicular fixed support bar to support an arm of the user extended downward while a leg of the user is extended forward to rest a foot or the ankle or a calf of the user upon said at least one height-adjustable support bar.

10. The stretching apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein at least two of said plurality of fixed support bars are at least substantially perpendicular to and at least partially vertically offset from one another.

11. The stretching apparatus of claim 9, wherein the different one of said plurality of fixed support bars is located higher than the substantially perpendicular fixed support bar.

12. The stretching apparatus of claim 11, wherein the base comprises a plurality of outwardly disposed legs to support the vertical post in the upright position.

13. The stretching apparatus of claim 11, wherein the vertical post further comprises a square cross-section.

14. A stretching pole apparatus comprising:

a base to support a stretching pole vertically on a flat surface;

said stretching pole having a plurality of left to right through holes ascending vertically up the stretching pole;

one positionable stretch peg selectively insertable through any one left to right through hole and configured to support an ankle of a user thereon;

one fixed support pole fixed to the stretching pole, and extending forward from and perpendicular to the one positionable stretch peg, the one fixed support pole configured to be at about a height of a waist of the user;

said one fixed support pole having a length configured to be about a leg length of the user as measured from the ankle of the user to the user'"'"'s waist;

a fixed hand peg located above the one fixed support pole and parallel to the one positionable stretch peg; and

wherein the stretching pole apparatus is configured such that the user can stand back from the stretching pole a distance that is comfortable while resting the ankle on the one positionable stretch peg, supporting an arm of the user extended downward on the one fixed support pole, and grabbing the fixed hand peg.