Portable Exercise Unit

• US 20080318744A1
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Maurizio M. Barra
• Original Assignee: Maurizio M. Barra
• Inventors: Barra, Maurizio M.
• Application Number:
  US12/139,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/027 using player's own weight, e.g. on a platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00061 Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping
• 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 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

A portable exercise device for performing Pilates-type exercises includes a base portion having first and second base members interconnected through a pivot member. In a first configuration, a first end portion of a bar is selectively connected to the pivot element while a second end portions of the bar is connected to the first and second base members by elastomeric bands. In a second configuration, first and second end portions of the bar are connected to corresponding ones of the first and second base members by elastomeric bands. When in the first configuration, a user selectively shifts the bar side-to-side about the pivot member to alternatingly stretch and relax the elastomeric bands. When in the second configuration, the user selectively manipulates the bar to simultaneously stretch and relax the first and second elastomeric bands through mainly vertical movements.

Claims

1. A portable exercise device comprising:

a base portion having first and second base members interconnected through a pivot member, said first base member including a first end pivotally attached to the pivot member and extending, in a first direction, to a second end through an intermediate portion and said second base member including a first end pivotally attached to the pivot member and extending, in a second direction, to a second end through an intermediate portion;

a bar including a first end selectively connected to the pivot member and extending to a second end through an intermediate portion;

a first elastic cable having a first end connected adjacent the second end of the first base member and extending to a second end that is connected to the second end of the bar; and

a second elastic cable having a first end connected adjacent the second end of the second base member and extending to a second end wherein, when the portable exercise device is in a first configuration, the second end of the second elastic cable is connected to the cap member with said bar being selectively pivoted about the pivot member to alternatingly stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables respectively and, when the portable exercise device is in a second configuration, the first end of the bar is detached from the pivot member and the second end of the second elastic cable is connected to the first end of the bar whereby, the bar can be manipulated to simultaneously stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables.

2. The portable exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising:

first and second foot pads, each of said first and second foot pads being adjustably connected to corresponding ones of the first and second base members.

3. The portable exercise device according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second foot pads includes a foot retention strap.

4. The portable exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising:

first and second cable blocks connected to the second ends of the first and second base members respectively, said first and second elastic cables being connected to corresponding ones of the first and second cable blocks.

5. The portable exercise device according to claim 4, wherein each of the first and second cable blocks is pivotally connected to the respective second ends of the first and second base members.

6. The portable exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cap member detachably connected to the second end of the bar.

7. The portable exercise device according to claim 6, wherein the second end of each of the first and second cables includes corresponding first and second cable blocks, each of said first and second cable blocks being adapted to be detachably connected to the cap member.

8. The portable exercise device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second cable blocks are detachably mounted to the cap member through a twist lock arrangement.

9. The portable exercise device according to claim 6, wherein the pivot member includes a stationary portion and a pivot portion, said pivot portion being connected to the base section through a ball and socket arrangement.

10. The portable exercise device according to claim 9, wherein the bar includes multiple, detachably interconnected sections.

11. The portable exercise device according to claim 10, wherein the multiple, detachably interconnected sections include first and second intermediate sections and first and second end sections.

12. The portable exercise device according to claim 11, wherein the first and second end portion define corresponding first and second handles, each of said first and second handles being provided with a cushioned grip.

13. The portable exercise device according to claim 11, wherein the first end section is detachably connected to the cap member and the second end section is adapted to be detachably connected to the pivot member when the portable exercise device is in the first configuration.

14. The portable exercise device according to claim 6, further comprising:

another cap member selectively connected to the first end of the bar, said second end of the second elastic cable being adapted to be connected to the another cap member when the portable exercise device is in the second configuration.

15. The portable exercise device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elastic cables is constituted by first and second pairs of cables.

16. A method of configuring a portable exercise device to perform multiple exercises comprising:

slidably connecting first and second foot pads to corresponding first and second base members, said first and second base members being interconnected through a pivot member;

connecting a first end of a first elastic cable adjacent a first end of the first base member and a first end of a second elastic cable adjacent a first end of the second base member;

configuring the portable exercise device in a first configuration to perform a first set of exercises by;

connecting a first end of a bar to the pivot member;

connecting a second end of the first elastic cable to a second end of the bar;

connecting a second end of the second elastic cable to the second end of the bar, whereby a user can selectively pivot the bar about the pivot member to alternatingly stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables respectively; and

reconfiguring the portable exercise device in a second configuration to perform a second set of exercises by;

disconnecting the second end of the second cable from the second end of the bar;

disconnecting the first end of the bar from the pivot member; and

connecting the second end of the second cable to the first end of the bar, whereby the user can selectively manipulate the bar to simultaneously stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

attaching a cap member to the second end of the bar wherein, when in the first configuration, the second ends of respective ones of the first and second elastic cables are detachably connected to the cap member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second ends of respective ones of the first and second cables are twist-locked to the cap member.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

attaching another cap member to the first end of the bar when the portable exercise device is reconfigured to the second configuration, said second end of the second cable being connected to the another cap member.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second end of the second elastic cable is twist-locked to the another cap member.