Exercise apparatus

• US 6,752,745 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Everton Davis
• Original Assignee: Everton Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Everton
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Application Number:
  US10/270,205
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 482/72, 482/129, 482/130, 482/133, 482/135, 482/137, 482/138, 482/121, 482/122, 482/123, 482/96, D21/690, D21/676
• US Class Current: 482/72
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00 Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0421 the ends moving relatively by a pivoting arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/1609 for anchoring on a chair chairs with exercising means A47C9/002
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0214 Kneeling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0228 Sitting on the buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair

Abstract

An exercise apparatus utilized for toning and building muscles in different areas of the body, including the arms, chest, shoulders, abdominal muscles, thighs, calves, and hips. The exercise apparatus has a support assembly, having a horizontal bottom support bar, and various components positioned along the support bar. The components include a seat assembly located at the rear end, a pair of thigh press bars located at the middle portion, a foot support assembly located at the front end, and elastic bands. The elastic bands are attached between different movable parts of the apparatus in order to provide resistance to the user when attempting to move such movable parts with respect to each other while exercising.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for use by a user having feet, hands, and a body, comprising:

an apparatus support assembly, the support assembly comprising;

a horizontal bottom support bar that extends the entire length of the apparatus, the bottom support bar having a pair of sides, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a rear end, and a middle portion positioned between the front and rear ends, the assembly further having a front sleeve positioned at the bar front end, a rear sleeve positioned at the bar rear end, a middle sleeve positioned at the bar middle portion;

a back rest support that extends upward from the bottom support bar rear sleeve, the back rest support having a pair of opposed ends and a middle portion therebetween, wherein one of the support ends is pivotally connected to the rear sleeve to allow the back rest support to pivot forward and rearward; and

a seat support that extends upward from the middle sleeve; and

a seat assembly, the seat assembly having a seat, a back rest, and a head rest, the seat having a top surface and a bottom surface supported by and attached to the support assembly seat support, the back rest having a top portion, a bottom portion, a padded front surface, and a rear surface which is connected to the back rest support, and wherein the head rest extends upward from the back rest top portion;

a foot support assembly that is pivotally secured within the bottom support front sleeve and extending upward therefrom, the foot assembly having a vertical stationary bar, a pair of adjustable plates positioned on either side of the vertical stationary bar and pivotally connected thereto by a horizontal support rod, and a pair of foot pads attached outwardly to the plates for accommodating the user'"'"'s feet, wherein each plate has a front side and a rear side, and the stationary bar has a front side and a rear side;

a plurality of elastic bands, the bands being attached between the back rest and base, and between the vertical stationary bar and plates to provide resistance to the user during exercise, said bands having a pair of opposed ends, each end having a hole therethrough for attaching to one of the back rest, base, vertical stationary bars, and plates; and

wherein the foot assembly further comprises hooks attached to the rear sides of the plates and a stability bar for selectively connecting the plates by mating with the hooks of both plates, whereby when the stability bar is engaged with the hooks the plates are limited to simultaneous movement, and when the stability bar is removed, the plates are allowed to moved independently of each other.

2. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the support assembly further comprises a set of horizontal sleeves positioned at the bar middle portion along the sides, said sleeves extending laterally outward therefrom;

and wherein the apparatus further comprises a pair of thigh press bars, the thigh press bars each having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a pad attached to the top portion, the thigh press bar bottom portion pivotally connected to the bottom support horizontal sleeves for allowing lateral movement of the thigh pres bars, the thigh press bars extend upward alongside the seat; and

wherein elastic bands extend between each of the thigh press bars and the seat bottom surface to resist outward movement by the thigh press bars.

3. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the plates each having a top portion and a bottom portion, whereby the plate top portion extends telescopically into the plate bottom portion thereby allowing the length of the plate to be adjustable.

4. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein each plate bottom portion further comprises a push pin that is wedged against the plate top portion, thereby securing said top portion within the bottom portion.

5. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the horizontal bottom support bar includes a major portion and a minor portion, wherein the major portion has an open front end for telescopically accommodating the minor portion, whereby the overall length of the horizontal support bar may be adjusted in order to accommodate different users.

6. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the horizontal bottom support bar major portion further comprises a ring extending around the open front end and a set screw extending through the ring and the bar major portion, whereby the set screw tightens against the minor portion to fix relative positions of the major and minor portions.

7. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a pair of stabilizing legs, one of the legs extending laterally outward from the bottom support front end and the other leg extends laterally outward from the bottom support rear end.

8. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein each stabilizing leg has at least one leg ring and wherein the apparatus further comprises rubber cords that are selectively attachable to the leg rings, each rubber cord having a pair of opposed ends, wherein one end is securable to the leg ring and the opposite end has a handle attached thereto for tensioning the cord against said leg ring.

9. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly further comprises a pair of handlebars that are attached to and extend laterally outward from the back rest top portion and the back rest bottom portion, each handlebar having a grip therearound.

10. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein each handlebar has a hook positioned adjacent to its grips.

11. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises metal bands utilized in immobilizing one of the components of the apparatus, each band having a pair of opposed ends, and each end having a hole extending therethrough for accommodating one of the pegs.

12. The exercise apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprises locking rings, the locking rings being positioned over the metal band and the peg in order to secure the metal band in place.