Strength Training Workout Bench

• US 20110306480A1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CORE BENCH FITNESS
• Original Assignee: Core Bench Fitness
• Inventors: Como, Ellen, Greasley, Tony, Beaulieu, Michele, Beaulieu, Stephen M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,568,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/081 fluid-filled, e.g. air-filled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/907 Stretching

Abstract

A rectangular workout bench with removable legs for use directly on the floor or raised on legs 12, 13, 108 has an inflatable flexible air filled plastic material cushion 2 work out area allowing a person to lay on for physical therapy, strength training and balance. The rectangular shape allows spine and neck support while the instability of the air filled cushion 2 allows muscles to activate. Beginners use the workout cushion 2 directly on the floor and advanced workouts are on the elevated bench with accessible footrests.

Claims

1. An exercise method comprising the steps of:

a) laying prone on a cushion of an exercise apparatus with the entire weight supported and with the head, neck, and spine held in suspension, the exercise apparatus comprising (i) a bench comprising a rectangular platform and a support for holding the rectangular platform above the ground, the platform having an upper surface, and (ii) the cushion being a single, rectangular air filled cell secured to the upper surface of the platform, the cushion having a dome-shaped upper surface, a length, and a longitudinal axis, wherein the apex of the upper surface of the cushion extends along the length of the cushion parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform for creating instability when exercising; and

b) moving body muscles.

2. An exercise method comprising the steps of:

a) laying prone on a cushion of an exercise apparatus with the entire weight supported and with the head, neck, and spine held in suspension, the exercise apparatus comprising (i) a bench comprising a rectangular platform and a support for holding the rectangular platform above the ground, the platform having an upper surface, and (ii) the cushion being a single, rectangular air filled cell secured to the upper surface of the platform, the cushion having a dome-shaped upper surface, a length, and a longitudinal axis, wherein the apex of the upper surface of the cushion extends along the length of the cushion parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform for creating instability when exercising, and

wherein the bench has opposed sides and a foot section, and

further comprising non-movable foot supports sufficiently wide to place feet while exercising on the apparatus, wherein there is a foot support on each side of the bench at the foot section;

b) placing feet on the foot supports; and

c) moving body muscles.

3. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a) a bench comprising a rectangular platform and a support for holding the rectangular platform above the ground, the platform having an upper surface; and

b) a single flexible, rectangular air filled cushion secured to the upper surface of the bench, the cushion having a dome-shaped upper surface, a length, and a longitudinal axis, wherein the apex of the upper surface of the cushion extends along the length of the cushion parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform for creating instability when exercising.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the support comprises legs.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the support is removable the bench so that the apparatus without the support can be used.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 comprising an air fill port for the cushion in the cushion proximate to the platform, and an access hole to the fill port in the platform.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cushion has a peripheral edge, the apparatus comprising a retainer securing the edge of the cushion to the platform.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the bench has opposed sides and a foot section, wherein the retainer comprises non-movable foot supports sufficiently wide to place feet while working out on the apparatus, wherein there is a foot support on each side of the bench at the foot section.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the support comprises removable legs so that cushion can be used on the floor.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bench has opposed sides and a foot section, and further comprising non-removable foot supports sufficiently wide to place feet while working out on the apparatus, wherein there is a foot support on each side of the bench at the foot section.

11. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a) a generally rectangular support and a base for holding the rectangular support above the ground;

b) at least one flexible, rectangular gas filled cushion secured to the support, the cushion having a body with a dome-shaped upper surface, a bottom surface, a length, and a longitudinal axis, the cushion including a peripheral rim along at least a portion of edge of the bottom surface of the body, wherein the apex of the upper surface of the body extends along the length of the body parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support for creating instability when exercising; and

c) a retainer for securing the cushion peripheral rim to the support.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the peripheral rim is along the entire edge of the bottom surface of the cushion body.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the retainer comprises a frame around the cushion and the peripheral rim of the cushion is held between the frame and the support.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the support is held to the base by hand releasable fasteners that can be released without tools for using the cushion without the base.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the support comprises at least one upwardly projecting rib and the cushion body includes a recess for receiving the rib.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the support provides space below the cushion for expansion of the cushion into the space when pressure is applied to the top surface of the cushion body.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 having a head section and a foot section, and the support, the retainer, or both have a foot support on each side of the apparatus at the foot section.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the support comprises a hand grip on each side of the support at the head section.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 having has a head section and a foot section, and the support comprises a hand grip on each side of the support at the head section.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the hand grips comprise indentations in the underside of the support.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the hand grips comprise indentations in the underside of the retainer.

22. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising only one cushion.

24. A method of exercising comprising the steps of:

a) releasing by hand without tools the combination of the retainer, the lower frame, the support and the cushion from the apparatus of claim 14; and

b) after step (a), placing the combination on a floor with the apex of cushion body facing upwardly for exercising on the cushion.

23. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a) a rectangular support and a base for holding the rectangular support above the ground;

b) a single flexible, rectangular gas filled cushion secured to the support, the cushion having a body with a dome-shaped upper surface, a bottom surface, a length, a longitudinal axis, the cushion including a peripheral rim along at least a portion of edge of the bottom surface of the body, wherein the apex of the upper surface of the body extends along the length of the body parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support for creating instability when exercising;

c) a retainer for securing the cushion peripheral rim to the support, wherein the peripheral rim is sandwiched between the support and the retainer; and

d) hand releasable fasteners for fastening the support to the base, wherein the hand releasable fasteners can be released without tools for using the cushion without the base.