Trampoline-like aerobic exercise apparatus and method

• US 4,836,530 A
• Filed: 05/16/1988
• Issued: 06/06/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bedford F. Stanley Jr
• Original Assignee: Bedford F. Stanley Jr
• Inventors: Stanley, Bedford F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crow, S. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/194,308
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 272/65, 272/66, 272/146, 272/93, 272/130, 272/1 B, 272/109, 272/62, 272/63
• US Class Current: 482/27
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/11 Trampolines

Abstract

A trampoline-like aerobic exerciser apparatus and method is disclosed. The exerciser apparatus is designed having a raised, substantially circular base portion adapted for using a sturdy resilient fabric material as the exercise mat portion. The base portion is sized for individual, in-place exercising and is further adapted with a vertically adjustable, railed handle member means attached to said base member means for balancing during exercising by a user. The exercise mat portion is mounted and forcedly retained onto the base portion using a pressurized tube and rim arrangement.

Claims

1. A trampoline-like aerobic exercise apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base member means for supporting said apparatus, said base member means being substantially a circular structure comprising;

(i) a first base ring member,

(ii) a second base ring member, said second base ring member being latitudinally spaced above said first base ring member,

(iii) a plurality of brace support members for mechanically interconnecting said first base ring member to said second base ring member,

(iv) a plurality of lower handle receiver member means, said plurality of lower handle receiver member means being fixedly attached to said first base ring member at selected locations where said plurality of brace support members are fixedly attached, and

(v) an upright positioning ring member, said upright positioning ring member having a wall portion fixedly attached to said second base ring member and extending upward therefrom;

(b) a resilient mat member means for conducting aerobic exercises;

a removable pneumatic retaining means for retaining and tensioning said mat member means onto said base member means utilizing said upright positioning ring member; and

(d) a railed handle member means attached to said plurality of lower handle receiver member means for balancing during exercising by a user of said exercise apparatus.

2. A trampoline-like aerobic exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of lower handle receiver member means is comprised of:

(a) a hollow, substantially short, tublar member, said tubular member being fixedly attached to said first base ring member;

(b) a threaded bore portion located on said tublar member; and

(c) a threaded shaft knob means threadably secured to said threaded bore section.

3. A trampoline-like aerobic exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, base member further comprising:

at least one safety outrigger means removably secured to said base member means for proving greater stability of said apparatus.

4. A trampoline-like aerobic exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient mat member means comprises:

(a) a substantially circular, reinforced fabric portion;

(b) a stitched looped end portion formed around a peripheral portion of said reinforced fabric portion; and

(c) a rod member enclosed in said looped end portion, said rod member being utilized for securing said looped end portion to said base member means.

5. A trampoline-like aerobic apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said pneumatic retaining means comprises:

(a) an inflatable tube;

(b) a rim member for mounting said inflatable tube, said rim member and said mounted inflatable tube being positioned within said looped end portion containing said rod member, said looped end portion having said positioned inflatable tube and rim member mounted onto said upright positioning ring member, said inflatable tube having a valve stem protruding through said rim member and said upright positioning ring member for being inflated and thereby tensioning said reinforced fabic portion.

6. A trampoline-like aerboic exercise apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said railed handle member means comprises:

(a) laterally disposed pairs of lower handle members, each pair of said laterally disposed pairs of lower handle members being mounted onto a corresponding pair of lower handle receiver members, each one said pair of lower handle members having a spring and pin mounted at an upper end;

(b) laterally disposed pairs of upper handle members, each pair of said laterally disposed pairs of upper handle members being releaseably secured to a corresponding pair of said lower handle members by said spring and pin;

(c) a pair of laterally disposed horizontal upper handle portions, each one of said pair of horizontal upper handle portions being integrally formed with a respective end of said pairs of upper handle member;

(d) a grip attached to each of said pair of horizontal upper handle portions; and

(e) a crossbar member, said crossbar member being mechanically secured between said laterally disposed pairs of upper handle members.

7. A trampoline-like aerobic exercise apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base member means for supporting said apparatus, said base member means being substantially a circular structure comprising a first base ring member, a second base ring member, said second base ring member being latitudinally spaced above said first base ring member, a plurality of brace support members for mechanically interconnecting said first base ring member to said second base ring member, a plurality of lower handle receiver member means, said plurality of lower handle receiver member means being fixedly attached to said first base ring members at selected locations where said plurality of brace support members are fixedly attached and an upright positioning ring member, said upright positioning ring member having a wall portion fixedly attached to said second base ring member and extending upward thereform;

(b) a resilient mat member means for conducting aerobic exercises;

(c) a pneumatic retaining means for retaining and tensioning said mat member means onto and upright positioning ring member of said base member means, said pneumatic retaining means comprising an inflatable tube and a rim member for mounting said inflatable tube, said rim member and said mounted inflatable tube being positioned beneath said resilient mat member means and being retained by said upright positioning ring member.

(d) a railed handle member means attached to said base member means using said plurality of lower handle receiver member means for balancing during exercising by a user of said exercise apparatus.

8. A method of conducting aerobic exercises in a trampoline-like manner, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an exercises facility for conducting aerboic exercises;

(b) providing a trampoline-like aerobic exercise apparatus, said aerobic exercise apparatus comprising,

(i) a base member means for supporting said apparatus;

(ii) a resilient mat member means for conducting aerobic exercises;

(iii) a pneumatic retaining means for retaining and tensioning said mat member means onto said base member means; and

(iv) a railed handle member means attached to said base member means for balancing during exercising by a user of said exercise apparatus;

(c) adapting said base member means with a first base ring member, a second base ring member, said second base ring member being latitudinally spaced above said first base ring member, a plurality of brace support members for mechanically interconnecting said first base ring member to said second base ring member, a plurality of lower handle receiver member means, and an upright positioning ring member, said upright positioning ring member having a wall portion fixedly attached to said second base ring member and extending upward therefrom, said upright positioning ring member being used for removedly mounting and retaining said pneumatic retaining means;

(d) positioning an exercise user onto said resilient mat member means;

(e) preparing for beginning an exercise set by balancing using said railed handle member means; and

(f) conducting said aerobic exercises in a trampoline-like manner.