Exercise apparatus

• US 8,137,249 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Core STIX Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Core STIX Fitness LLC
• Inventors: Kadar, Michael Shannon, Koch, Kregg Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganesan, Sundhara
• Application Number:
  US12/767,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20100273615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 482/121, 482/123, 482/126, 482/130, 482/907, 482/127, 482/129
• US Class Current: 482/123
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/045 having torsion or bending or flexion element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0355 A single apparatus used for either upper or lower limbs, i.e. with a set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limb or limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1227 Dips, i.e. push-ups in a vertical position, i.e. eccentric movement, e.g. between parallel bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1254 Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1263 Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements

Abstract

This description is not intended to limit the scope of the claims herein. An exercise device comprising a base that can be oriented at any angle and that defines a plurality of connection interfaces, each of which is designed to carry and restrain one end of a cantilevered resilient member. Said connection interfaces can be positioned at or adjusted to a widely varying range of locations and angular orientations with respect to the base. The resilient members can be affixed to any of the connection interfaces that the user desires, so that the resilient members can be positioned in a correspondingly wide range of locations and angular orientations relative to the base to enable the user to perform a wide range of exercises on the apparatus by gripping and exerting a force on the resilient members or other handles attached to the resilient members.

Claims

1. A device for exercising the muscles in one'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a first base portion and a second base portion supported by a support surface, the support surface defining a normal axis that is perpendicular to the support surface;

a first set of connection interfaces supported by the first base portion comprising a first connection interface having a first axial centerline and positioned at a first angular orientation and a second connection interface having a second axial centerline and positioned at a second angular orientation that is different than the first angular orientation;

a second set of connection interfaces supported by the second base portion comprising a third connection interface having a third axial centerline and positioned at a third angular orientation and a fourth connection interface having a fourth axial centerline and positioned at a fourth angular orientation that is different than the third angular orientation; and

at least one independently deflectable resilient member configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a force thereon so as to deflect at least a portion of each resilient member from the longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of each resilient member;

wherein;

each connection interface is configured to provide a removable support for each resilient member so as to support each resilient member in a cantilever disposition;

the first axial centerline and the second axial centerline define a first plane;

the third axial centerline and the fourth axial centerline define a second plane; and

the first plane is not coplanar with the second plane.

2. The device of claim 1, comprising:

a first resilient member configured to be supported by any one of the connection interfaces in a cantilever disposition;

a second resilient member configured to be supported by any one of the connection interfaces in a cantilever disposition;

wherein;

the first and second resilient members are configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a force thereon so as to bend at least a portion of the resilient member, effecting an exercising of one or more muscles in the user'"'"'s body;

the first resilient member is stiffer than the second resilient member such that a greater force is required to bend at least a portion of the first resilient member as compared to the second resilient member; and

each connection interface is configured to support either one of the first and second resilient members.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first plane is not parallel to the second plane.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first connection interface is positioned at a non-zero, positive angle relative to the normal axis and the second connection interface is positioned at a non-zero, negative angle relative to the normal axis such that the first and second connection interfaces are angled in opposite directions.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a ground surface or floor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the connection interfaces comprises an opening configured to provide the removable support for the at least one resilient member so as to support the at least one resilient member in a cantilever disposition.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of one or more openings is generally cylindrically shaped.

8. A method of exercising one or more muscles of the body using the device of claim 1, comprising, in any order:

supporting at least a portion of the at least one resilient member with the first connection interface;

grasping the at least one resilient member with one'"'"'s hand or hands;

exerting a force on the at least one resilient member so as to deflect at least a portion of the resilient member from the longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of the resilient member and effect an exercising of one or more muscles in the user'"'"'s body; and

adjusting the angular orientation of the centerline of the at least one resilient member from the first angular orientation to the second angular orientation by disengaging the resilient member from the first connection interface and supporting the resilient member with the second connection interface.

9. The device of claim 1, comprising three or more independently deflectable resilient members.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an axially resilient resistance member, wherein a portion of the axially resilient resistance member is removably supportable by the device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one resilient member comprises one or more of teeth, a spline, a protrusion, a channel, and a notch formed in a portion of the resilient member configured to be received by or in one of the connection interfaces.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one resilient member comprises a support element and a resilient element coupled with the support element, the support element being supportable by one of the connection interfaces and the resilient element having a different diameter or cross-sectional size than a diameter or cross-sectional size of the connection interfaces.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the connection interfaces comprises a projection extending from the first and/or second base portion, each projection being configured to provide a removable support for at least an end portion of at least one resilient member.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve element positioned around at least a portion of the outside surface of at least one resilient member.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises one or more releasable locking features configured to prevent the inadvertent disengagement of the resilient member from the connection interface defining the support for the resilient member.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion is rotatable and/or moveable so that the orientation and/or location of at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion is adjustable.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured such that the first base portion and the second base portion are attachable to the support surface, and the support surface is vertically oriented, horizontally oriented, or otherwise.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured such that the first base portion and the second base portion are attachable to a vertically oriented support surface.

19. The device of claim 1, comprising a base supporting the first base portion and the second base portion, the base being configured to support a user in a standing, kneeling, sitting, or other position.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the first base portion comprises four or more connection interfaces, each connection interface supported by the first base portion having a different angular orientation than the other connection interfaces supported by the first base portion, and the second base portion comprises four or more connection interfaces, each connection interface supported by the second base portion having a different angular orientation than the other connection interfaces supported by the second base portion, and wherein the device is configured such that the orientation of at least one resilient member can be varied from an angle that is approximately parallel to the support surface to an angle that is approximately perpendicular to the support surface, and at least one angle therebetween.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to support a portion of one or more axially resilient resistance members.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one resilient member is configured to support at least one of a rope, an individual handle, a “

W”

shaped handle, or other handle member configured to change the location and/or orientation of a user'"'"'s hand grip relative to the resilient member.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one resilient member comprises one or more fiberglass rods configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a force thereon so as to deflect at least a portion of each fiberglass rod from the longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of each fiberglass rod.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein at one least resilient member comprises one or more fiberglass rods, and wherein an end portion of the one or more fiberglass rods is supported by a support member of the resilient member.

25. A device for exercising one or more muscles of the body, comprising:

a base comprising a first base member;

a plurality of connection interfaces supported by the base, at least one of the connection interfaces being supported by the first base member; and

a plurality of resilient members, comprising;

a first resilient member configured to be supported by any one of the connection interfaces in a cantilever disposition such that a first end of the first resilient member is prevented from pivoting relative to the base; and

a second resilient member configured to be supported by any one of the connection interfaces in a cantilever disposition such that a first end of the second resilient member is prevented from pivoting relative to the base;

wherein;

the first and second resilient members are configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a force thereon so as to bend at least a portion of the resilient member, effecting an exercising of one or more muscles in the user'"'"'s body;

the first resilient member is stiffer than the second resilient member such that a greater force is required to bend at least a portion of the first resilient member as compared to the second resilient member;

each connection interface is configured to support any one of the plurality of resilient members; and

the angular orientation of a centerline of at least a portion of each of the plurality of resilient members is adjustable from a first angular orientation to at least a second angular orientation different from the first angular orientation without deflecting the resilient member from the longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of the resilient member by either disengaging the resilient member from the connection interface defining the first angular orientation and supporting the resilient member in another connection interface having the second angular orientation or by adjusting an angular orientation of the connection interface defining the support for the resilient member from the first angular orientation to the second angular orientation.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein each of the first and second resilient members comprise a support portion and a resilient portion, and wherein the support portion of the first resilient member has approximately the same shape as the support portion of the second resilient member.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein a cross-sectional size of the resilient portion of the first resilient member is larger than a cross-sectional size of the resilient portion of the second resilient member.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first and second resilient members comprises one or more fiberglass rods, and wherein an end portion of the one or more fiberglass rods is supported by the support portion of the resilient member.

29. The device of claim 25, comprising a third resilient member, wherein the third resilient member is stiffer than the first resilient member such that a greater force is required to bend at least a portion of the third resilient member as compared to the first resilient member.

30. The device of claim 25, further comprising a sleeve element positioned around at least a portion of the outside surface of at least one of the plurality of resilient members.

31. The device of claim 25, wherein at least one of the connection interfaces protrudes from the base.

32. The device of claim 25, wherein the shape of the inside surface of at least one of the connection interfaces is cylindrical.

33. The device of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and second resilient members is configured to support a removable or non-removable stiffener member in a cantilever disposition, the stiffener member being configured to increase the bending resistance of the resilient member.

34. The device of claim 25, wherein one or more of the resilient members comprises one or more of splines, teeth, protrusions, channels, and notches formed in a portion of the resilient member configured to be received by or in one of the connection interfaces.

35. The device of claim 25, wherein the device comprises one or more releasable locking features configured to prevent the inadvertent disengagement of the resilient member from the connection interface defining the support for the resilient member.

36. A device for exercising the muscles in one'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

at least one base element supportable by a support surface, the support surface defining a normal axis that is perpendicular to the support surface;

at least one resilient member, each configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a force thereon so as to deflect at least a portion of the resilient member from a longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of the resilient member; and

a first set of connection interfaces comprising a first connection interface, a second connection interface, and a third connection interface supported by the at least one base element;

wherein;

each connection interface is configured to provide a removable support for the at least one resilient member so as to support the at least one resilient member in a cantilever disposition;

the first connection interface is positioned at a different angular orientation relative to the normal axis as compared to the second connection interface;

the third connection interface is positioned at a different angular orientation relative to the normal axis as compared to the first and second connection interfaces;

the first and second connection interfaces are angled generally toward a user of the device;

the third connection interface is angled generally away from a user of the device; and

the device is configured such that the angular orientation of the longitudinal axis of at least a portion of each resilient member is adjustable from a first angular orientation to at least a second angular orientation that is different than the first angular orientation without deflecting the resilient member from the longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of the resilient member by varying the connection interface providing the removable support for the resilient member.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein one or more of the connection interfaces comprises an opening configured to provide the removable support for the at least one resilient member so as to support the at least one resilient member in a cantilever disposition.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein at least one resilient member comprises a support element and a resilient element coupled with the support element, the support element being configured to be supported by one of the connection interfaces and the resilient element having a larger diameter or cross-sectional size than a diameter or cross-sectional size of the connection interfaces.

39. The device of claim 36, wherein one or more of the connection interfaces comprises a projection extending from the base element, each projection being configured to provide a removable support for at least an end portion of at least one resilient member.

40. The device of claim 36, wherein the device comprises one or more releasable locking features configured to prevent the inadvertent disengagement of the resilient member from the connection interface defining the support for the resilient member.

41. The device of claim 36, wherein the at least one base element is rotatable and/or moveable so that the orientation and/or location of the at least one base element is adjustable.

42. The device of claim 36, wherein the at least one base element is configured to be attached to the support surface, and the support surface is vertically oriented, horizontally oriented, or otherwise.

43. The device of claim 36, comprising a base supporting the at least one base element, the base being configured to support a user in a standing, kneeling, sitting, or other position.

44. The device of claim 36, wherein at least one base element comprises four or more connection interfaces, each connection interface having a different angular orientation than the other connection interfaces supported by the respective base element.

45. The device of claim 36, wherein the device is configured to support a portion of one or more axially resilient resistance members.

46. The device of claim 36, wherein the device is configured such that the angular orientation of the longitudinal axis of at least a portion of each resilient member is adjustable to a third and a fourth angular orientation that are each different from one another and each different from the first and second angular orientations without deflecting the resilient member from the longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of the resilient member.

47. The device of claim 36, wherein the device is configured such that the angular orientation of at least one resilient member can be varied from an angle that is approximately parallel to the support surface to an angle that is approximately perpendicular to the support surface, and at least one angle therebetween.

48. The device of claim 36, wherein at least one resilient member comprises one or more fiberglass rods.

49. A device for exercising the muscles in one'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a first base portion and a second base portion supported by a support surface, the support surface defining a normal axis that is perpendicular to the support surface;

a first set of connection interfaces supported by the first base portion comprising a first connection interface having a first axial centerline and positioned at a first angular orientation and a second connection interface having a second axial centerline and positioned at a second angular orientation that is different than the first angular orientation;

a second set of connection interfaces supported by the second base portion comprising a third connection interface having a third axial centerline and positioned at a third angular orientation and a fourth connection interface having a fourth axial centerline and positioned at a fourth angular orientation that is different than the third angular orientation;

a fifth connection interface having a fifth axial centerline and positioned at a fifth angular orientation; and

at least one resilient member configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a force thereon so as to deflect at least a portion of the at least one resilient member from the longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of the at least one resilient member;

wherein;

each connection interface is configured to provide a removable support for a one resilient member so as to support the resilient member in a cantilever disposition;

the first axial centerline and the second axial centerline define a first plane;

the third axial centerline and the fourth axial centerline define a second plane;

the fifth axial centerline is not in the first plane or the second plane; and

the first plane is not coplanar with the second plane.

50. The device of claim 49, comprising:

a first resilient member configured to be supported by any one of the connection interfaces in a cantilever disposition;

a second resilient member configured to be supported by any one of the connection interfaces in a cantilever disposition;

wherein;

the first and second resilient members are configured to produce a resistance force when a user exerts a force thereon so as to bend at least a portion of the resilient member, effecting an exercising of one or more muscles in the user'"'"'s body;

the first resilient member is stiffer than the second resilient member such that a greater force is required to bend at least a portion of the first resilient member as compared to the second resilient member; and

each connection interface is configured to support either one of the first and second resilient members.

51. The device of claim 49, wherein the first plane is not parallel to the second plane.

52. The device of claim 49, wherein the first connection interface is positioned at a non-zero, positive angle relative to the normal axis and the second connection interface is positioned at a non-zero, negative angle relative to the normal axis such that the first and second connection interfaces are angled in opposite directions.

53. The device of claim 49, wherein one or more of the connection interfaces comprises an opening configured to provide the removable support for the at least one resilient member so as to support the at least one resilient member in a cantilever disposition.

54. A method of exercising one or more muscles of the body using the device of claim 49, comprising, in any order:

supporting at least a portion of the at least one resilient member with the first connection interface;

grasping the at least one resilient member with one'"'"'s hand or hands;

exerting a force on the at least one resilient member so as to deflect at least a portion of the resilient member from the longitudinal axis of the relaxed position of the resilient member and effect an exercising of one or more muscles in the user'"'"'s body; and

adjusting the angular orientation of the centerline of the at least one resilient member from the first angular orientation to the second angular orientation by disengaging the resilient member from the first connection interface and supporting the resilient member with the second connection interface.

55. The device of claim 49, comprising two or more resilient members.

56. The device of claim 49, further comprising an axially resilient resistance member, wherein an end portion of the axially resilient resistance member is removably supportable by the device.

57. The device of claim 49, wherein the device comprises one or more releasable locking features configured to prevent the inadvertent disengagement of the resilient member from the connection interface defining the support for the resilient member.

58. The device of claim 49, wherein at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion is rotatable and/or moveable so that the orientation and/or location of at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion is adjustable.

59. The device of claim 49, comprising a base supporting the first base portion and the second base portion, the base being configured to support a user in a standing, kneeling, sitting, or other position.

60. The device of claim 49, wherein the first base portion comprises four or more connection interfaces, each connection interface supported by the first base portion having a different angular orientation than the other connection interfaces supported by the first base portion, and the second base portion comprises four or more connection interfaces, each connection interface supported by the second base portion having a different angular orientation than the other connection interfaces supported by the second base portion, and wherein the device is configured such that the orientation of at least one resilient member can be varied between an angle that is approximately parallel to the support surface, an angle that is approximately perpendicular to the support surface, and at least one angle therebetween.

61. The device of claim 49, wherein the device is configured to support an end portion of one or more axially resilient resistance members.

62. The device of claim 49, wherein at least one resilient member is configured to support at least one of a rope, an individual handle, a “

W”

shaped handle, or other handle member configured to change the location and/or orientation of a user'"'"'s hand grip relative to the resilient member.