Stretching and exercise apparatus

• US 7,294,100 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: High Kick Productions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: High Kick Productions, Inc.
• Inventors: Bull, Tommy
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow; Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewin; Allana
• Application Number:
  US10/978,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 482/907, 482/70, 482/71, 482/133, 482/138, 482/79, 482/80, 482/51
• US Class Current: 482/51
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0295 on hands and feet for push-ups A63B23/1236
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0417 with guided foot supports moving parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane by translation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0488 by spreading the legs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1263 Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/907 Stretching

Abstract

A stretching and exercise apparatus comprises at least one track member. The apparatus further comprises a pair of sliding platforms engaged to the at least one track member, wherein the platforms are configured to freely slide along the track member. The apparatus further comprises a pair of hand rails.

Claims

1. A stretching and exercise apparatus, comprising:

two elongate track members, each comprising a hollow cylinder, wherein said hollow cylinder comprises a slot facing an interior of said apparatus;

a pair of platforms engaged to the elongate track members, wherein each platforms comprises four pegs, two of which are configured to fit and slide within each said slot, and wherein each peg comprises a wheel configured to rotate about the peg and within the hollow cylinder and a diameter of said wheel is larger than a height of said slot;

a pair of hand rails centered along the longitudinal direction of said elongate track members, wherein each hand rail comprises two vertical supports having an adjustable length;

four horizontal support members comprising hollow cylinders, two of which extend in a transverse outward direction from each of said two elongate track members, wherein each of said horizontal support members is connected with one of said vertical supports;

four track connection members having a T-shape in top view and comprising tubular components, said tubular components having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of said elongate track members and said horizontal support members so as to engage with said elongate track members and horizontal support members in sliding communication, said track connection members further comprising a slot formed so as to coincide with said slot of the elongate track member when said elongate track member is engaged within said track connection member; and

further consisting of an elongate stabilizing member extending between said two elongate track members at a midpoint along the longitudinal direction of said track members, wherein said elongate stabilizing member is configured to be a barrier to the sliding of said pegs within said slots.

2. The stretching and exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pair of hand rails are configured to support a user.

3. The stretching and exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pair of hand rails further comprises a substantially horizontal, raised portion.

4. The stretching and exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein the horizontal portion is raised between two and three feet from the elongate track member.

5. The stretching and exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each platform is configured to receive both feet, both knees, or both hands of a user placed side by side.

6. The stretching and exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of platforms comprises a one foot by one foot platform.

7. The stretching and exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said two elongate track members comprise polyvinyl chloride.

8. A method of stretching and exercising for a user, comprising:

providing the apparatus of claim 1;

moving the platforms away from one another; and

moving the platforms toward one another.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of moving the platforms away from one another and toward one another further comprise:

placing one foot on one of the platforms and another foot on another of the platforms;

grasping the hand rails;

abducting a user'"'"'s legs to slide the platforms away from one another; and

adducting the user'"'"'s legs to slide the platforms toward one another.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of moving the platforms away from one another and toward one another further comprise:

placing both feet on one of the platforms;

grasping the hand rails;

extending both feet and bending a user'"'"'s arms to slide the one of the platforms away from the other of the platforms; and

drawing both feet in while straightening the user'"'"'s arms to slide the one of the platforms toward the other of the platforms.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of moving the platforms away from one another and toward one another further comprise:

placing both knees on one of the platforms and both hands on another of the platforms;

separating the user'"'"'s hands and knees to slide the platforms away from one another; and

bringing the user'"'"'s hands and knees together to slide the platforms toward one another.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

placing both feet, both knees, or both hands of a user side by side on one of said platforms; and

sliding said platform to stretch and/or exercise the body of said user.