Non-linear resistance based exercise apparatus

• US 8,033,960 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Olson, Michael, Dalebout, William
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/879,879
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 482 38- 42, 482/130, 482/129, 482121-123, 482/26, 482 95- 96, 482/148
• US Class Current: 482/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• 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 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0216 moving lower limbs with immobilized torso
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1218 Chinning, pull-up, i.e. concentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1227 Dips, i.e. push-ups in a vertical position, i.e. eccentric movement, e.g. between parallel bars

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a base. A first and second vertical support members are coupled to the base. Additionally, a resistance assembly is coupled to the first and second vertical support members. When viewed from the base, the first and second support members converge relative to one another until mutual vertices. The first and second support members then diverge relative to one another above the vertices.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a base;

a first vertical support member coupled to said base;

a second vertical support member coupled to said base; and

a resistance assembly coupled to said first vertical support member and said second vertical support member;

wherein said first and second vertical support members converge rearwardly and inwardly relative to one another to form a first vertex and a second vertex; and

wherein said first support member and said second support member diverge forwardly and laterally relative to one another above said first vertex and said second vertex.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resistance assembly further comprises:

a first resistance assembly disposed on said first vertical support member; and

a second resistance assembly disposed on said second vertical support member.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said first resistance assembly follows a profile of said first support member; and

said second resistance assembly follows a profile of said second support member.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first resistance assembly further comprises:

at least one elastic resistance member, said at least one elastic resistance member having a first end and a second end;

a first coupling feature connected to said first end of said at least one elastic resistance member;

a second coupling feature connected to said second end of said at least one elastic resistance member;

a top guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said top guide being coupled to a top portion of said first vertical support member above said first vertex;

a bottom guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member below said first vertex, said bottom guide being coupled to a bottom portion of said first vertical support member; and

an intermediate guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said intermediate guide being coupled to said first vertical support member at said vertex.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

said top guide and said bottom guide each define an opening configured to facilitate passage of said at least one elastic resistance member; and

wherein said first coupling feature and said second coupling feature each have a maximum width that is greater than said opening defined by said top guide and said bottom guide.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein said second resistance assembly further comprises:

at least one elastic resistance member, said at least one elastic resistance member having a first end and a second end;

a first coupling feature connected to said first end of said at least one elastic resistance member;

a second coupling feature connected to said second end of said at least one elastic resistance member;

a top guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said top guide being coupled to a top portion of said second vertical support member above said second vertex;

a bottom guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said bottom guide being coupled to a bottom portion of said second vertical support member above said second vertex; and

an intermediate guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said intermediate guide being coupled to said second vertical support member at said second vertex.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein said elastic member is freely retained between said top guide, said intermediate guide, and said bottom guide such that said at least one elastic member is configured to be selectively actuated from said first end and said second end.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a vertically oriented base extension member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said vertically oriented base extension member is coupled to a back portion of said base; and

a back pad coupled to said second end of said vertically oriented base extension member;

wherein said back pad is disposed at said vertex of said first vertical support member and said vertex of said second vertical support member.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a support bar coupled to said second end of said vertically oriented base extension member, wherein said support bar is configured to project parallel to said base around said vertex of said first vertical support member and said vertex of said second vertical support member in a first position.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a pivot assembly coupling said support bar to said second end of said vertically oriented base extension member, wherein said pivot assembly is configured to selectively position said support bar in said first position and a second position;

wherein said second position includes said support bar oriented substantially perpendicular to said base.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 10, wherein said support bar comprises a “

C”

shaped member having a back portion and a plurality of protruding members;

wherein a distance between said protruding members is sufficiently wide to rotate said support bar about said pivot assembly coupled to said vertically oriented base extension member without engaging said first and second support member.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a substantially horizontal protrusion disposed on top of each of said first and second support member.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a horizontally oriented pull-up bar traversing said substantially horizontal protrusion disposed on top of each of said first and second support members substantially above a median plane of said base.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said base includes a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface;

said first vertical support member is coupled to said base near a midpoint of said first side surface;

said second vertical support member is coupled to said base near a midpoint of said second side surface;

said first and second vertical support members below said first and second vertex are oriented toward said back surface of said base; and

said first and second vertical support members above said first and second vertex are oriented toward said front surface of said base.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first vertex and said second vertex are coincident.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first vertical support member and said second vertical support member are coupled near said vertex.

17. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a base;

a first vertical support member coupled to said base;

a second vertical support member coupled to said base;

wherein said first and second support members converge rearwardly and inwardly relative to one another and are coupled at a vertex and wherein said first and second support members diverge forwardly and laterally relative to said vertex; and

at least one resistance assembly disposed on said first vertical support member including at least one elastic resistance member, said at least one elastic resistance member having a first end and a second end, a first coupling feature connected to said first end of said at least one elastic resistance member, a second coupling feature connected to said second end of said at least one elastic resistance member, a top guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said top guide being coupled to a top portion of said first vertical support member above said vertex, a bottom guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said bottom guide being coupled to a bottom portion of said first vertical support member below said vertex; and

an intermediate guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said intermediate guide being coupled to said first vertical support member at said vertex.

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

a vertically oriented base extension member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said vertically oriented base extension member is coupled to a back portion of said base;

a back pad coupled to said second end of said vertically oriented base extension member, wherein said back pad is disposed at said vertex; and

a support bar coupled to said second end of said vertically oriented base extension member by a pivot assembly configured to selectively position said support bar in a first position parallel to said base around said vertex and a second position includes said support bar oriented substantially perpendicular to said base.

wherein said support bar is a “

C”

shaped member having a back portion and a plurality of protruding members, wherein a distance between said protruding members is sufficiently wide to rotate said support bar about said pivot assembly coupled to said vertically oriented base extension member without engaging said first and second support member.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a substantially horizontal protrusion disposed on top of each of said first and second support member; and

a horizontally oriented pull-up bar traversing said substantially horizontal protrusion disposed on top of each of said first and second support member substantially above a median plane of said base;

wherein said base includes a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, said first vertical support member being coupled to said base near a midpoint of said first side surface, said second vertical support member being coupled to said base near a midpoint of said second side surface, said first and second vertical support members below said vertex being oriented toward said back surface of said base, and said first and second vertical support members above said vertex being oriented toward said front surface of said base.

20. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a base including a front surface, a back surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface;

a first vertical support member coupled to said base on said first side near a center of said first side;

a second vertical support member coupled to said base on said second side near a center of said second side, wherein said first and second support members converge relative to one another to form a first vertex and a second vertex and wherein said first and second support members diverge relative to one another above said first and second vertex; and

a first resistance assembly disposed on said first vertical support member including at least one elastic resistance member, said at least one elastic resistance member having a first end and a second end, a first coupling feature connected to said first end of said at least one elastic resistance member, a second coupling feature connected to said second end of said at least one elastic resistance member, a top guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said top guide being coupled to a top portion of said first vertical support member above said first vertex, a bottom guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said bottom guide being coupled to a bottom portion of said first vertical support member below said first vertex; and

an intermediate guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said intermediate guide being coupled to said first vertical support member at said first vertex;

a second resistance assembly disposed on said second vertical support member including at least one elastic resistance member, said at least one elastic resistance member having a first end and a second end, a first coupling feature connected to said first end of said at least one elastic resistance member, a second coupling feature connected to said second end of said at least one elastic resistance member, a top guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said top guide being coupled to a top portion of said second vertical support member above said second vertex, a bottom guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said bottom guide being coupled to a bottom portion of said second vertical support member below said second vertex, and an intermediate guide corresponding to said at least one elastic resistance member, said intermediate guide being coupled to said second vertical support member at said second vertex;

a vertically oriented base extension member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said vertically oriented base extension member is coupled to a back portion of said base;

a back pad coupled to said second end of said vertically oriented base extension member, wherein said back pad is disposed at said first vertex and said second vertex;

a support bar coupled to said second end of said vertically oriented base extension member by a pivot assembly configured to selectively position said support bar in a first position parallel to said base around said vertex of said first vertical support member and said vertex of said second vertical support member and a second position includes said support bar oriented substantially perpendicular to said base;

wherein said support bar is a “

C”

shaped member having a back portion and a plurality of protruding members, wherein a distance between said protruding members is sufficiently wide to rotate said support bar about said pivot assembly coupled to said vertically oriented base extension member without engaging said first and second support member

a substantially horizontal protrusion disposed on top of each of said first and second support member; and

a horizontally oriented pull-up bar traversing said substantially horizontal protrusion disposed on top of each of said first and second support member substantially above a median plane of said base;

wherein said first vertical support member is coupled to said base near a midpoint of said first side surface, second vertical support member is coupled to said base near a midpoint of said second side surface, said first and second vertical support members below said first and second vertex are oriented toward said back surface of said base, and said first and second vertical support members above said first and second vertex is oriented toward said front surface of said base.