Exercise apparatus

• US 20040185987A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stephen Ruzansky
• Original Assignee: Stephen Ruzansky
• Inventors: Ruzansky, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US10/394,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185987A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4033 Handles, pedals, bars or platforms
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1218 Chinning, pull-up, i.e. concentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement

Abstract

The present Invention is an apparatus to provide feedback to a user as to the user'"'"'s posture during exercise, particularly during push ups and during pull ups using a horizontal bar. Two members are connected to a frame by hinges. The members are resiliently connected to each other and touch the user. The members activate electrical switches, notifying the user when the user has fully completed a cycle of the push up or pull up. The members also provide tactile feed back to the user.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a. a first member adapted to engage a first portion of a user;

b. a second member adapted to engage a second portion of said user;

c. said first and second members each having a position, said positions of said first and said second members in combination corresponding to a posture of said user;

d. said first and second members being adapted to provide a signal corresponding to said posture of said user.

2. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

a. said position of said first member corresponds to a position of said first portion of said user;

b. said position of said second member corresponds to a position of said second portion of said user, said positions of said first and said second portions of said user in combination corresponding to said posture of said user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said signal being a tactile signal, said adaptation of said first and second members to provide said signal to said user comprising:

said first member being in user-perceptible tactile engagement with said first portion of said user, said second member being in user-perceptible tactile engagement with said second portion of said user, said user-perceptible tactile engagements of said first member and said second member in combination providing said signal to said user.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first member being in said user-perceptible tactile engagement at a first location on said first portion of said user, said second member being in said user-perceptible tactile engagement at a second location on said second portion of the user, said first and said second locations in combination being determined by said posture of said user, said tactile engagement at said first and said second locations providing said signal to said user.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a frame, said first and said second members each being connected to said frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said connection of each of said first and second members to said frame being a hinged connection, each of said first and second members having a body-engaging part, each of said first and second members being resiliently urged to rotate about said hinged connections and to engage said user with said body-engaging parts.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a resilient member urging said body-engaging parts of said first and second members to engage said user.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said resilient member is a spring.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said adaptation of said first and said second members to provide said signal comprising:

a. a first electrical switch, said first electrical switch being adapted to be actuated by said first member based on predetermined criteria;

b. a second electrical switch, said second electrical switch being adapted to be actuated by said second member based on predetermined criteria;

c. an electrical circuit, said first and second electrical switches completing said circuit when said first and second electrical switches are actuated, said electrical circuit activating said signal to the user.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said predetermined criteria for actuation of said first and second electrical switches are determined by a position of said first member and a position of said second member corresponding to completion of an exercise by said user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a sound or light source, said sound or light source being activated by said electrical circuit and providing said signal to said user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a. a first motion-limiting member operably connected to said first member and to said frame;

b. a second motion-limiting member operably connected to said second member and to said frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a horizontal bar, said horizontal bar being adapted to receive said frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said adaptation of said first and said second members to provide said signal comprising:

a mechanical linkage, said mechanical linkage being operably connected to said first and said second members, said mechanical linkage providing said signal to said user.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, said mechanical linkage comprising:

an indicator, said indicator being adapted to move in a first direction in response to a motion by said first member that is disproportionate to a motion by said second member, said indicator being adapted to move in a second direction in response to said motion by said second member that is disproportionate to said motion by said first member, said motion by said indicator in said first direction or said second direction providing said signal to said user.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, said indicator comprising:

a pointer and a body connected to said pointer, said body having a first end and a second end, said first end of said body being adapted to move in response to said motion by said first member, said second end of said body being adapted to move in response to said motion by said second member, said motion of said first and second ends in response to said motions of said fist and second members moving said pointer, said motion of said pointer providing said signal to said user.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said adaptation of said first and second ends of said body to move in response to said motions of said first and second members comprises:

a first member cord operably connecting said first member and said first end of said body;

a second member cord operably connecting said second member and said second end of said body.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, said apparatus further comprising:

a. an electrical switch, said indicator being adapted to activate said electrical switch;

b. an electrical circuit activated by said switch;

c. a visible or auditory indicia activated by said switch, said visible or auditory indicia providing said signal to said user.