Rotatable exercise apparatus

• US 5,449,334 A
• Filed: 03/22/1994
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Doug Kingsbury
• Original Assignee: Doug Kingsbury
• Inventors: Kingsbury, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Application Number:
  US08/216,478
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 482/16, 482/57, 482/61, 482/62, 482/66, 482/63, 472/16, 472/63, 601/26, 601/36, 601/24
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 19/04 movably supported on a framework or spheres or cylinders carrying the user inside standing on it for equilibrium exercises A63B26/003
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0005 with particular movement of the arms provided by handles moving otherwise than pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0087 with a seat or torso support moving during the exercise, e.g. reformers A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0285 Hanging

Abstract

A rotatable exercise apparatus for rotating a user in such a manner that the user'"'"'s center of gravity is offset with respect to the user'"'"'s center of rotation, while simultaneously exercising the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, side and neck. The rotatable exercise apparatus generally comprises a rotatable frame having an outwardly facing user support for offsetting the user'"'"'s center of gravity from the user'"'"'s center of rotation, a frame support structure, and a means for rotating the frame. The rotatable exercise apparatus provides a strenuous, low impact, complete physical work out which simulates the exercise and exertion which may be experienced by the human body, while participating in sailing-type activities.

Claims

1. A rotatable exercise apparatus, for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, comprising:

a rotatable frame including a first pivot end and a second peripheral end;

at least one secondary frame member in working association with said rotatable frame;

a linearly extended brace having a first end and a second end; and

a fixed, user support, the brace and the fixed, user support being mounted to the second peripheral end;

a support structure having a primary gear fixedly mounted thereto and means to affix said rotatable frame to said support structure, said support structure being engaged to the first pivot end of said rotatable frame; and

a means for rotating the user in an inversional 360°

vertical plane, said means for rotating including a rotation mechanism mounted to said rotatable frame, said rotation mechanism being mounted in mechanical engagement to and rotatable about the primary gear, said means for rotating further including a first pedal means mounted to the rotatable frame for use by the user'"'"'s arms to cream energy for rotating the user;

a second pedal means mounted to the rotatable frame for use by the user'"'"'s legs to create energy for rotating the user;

a main drive shaft, having a first end and a second end, the main drive shaft being mounted to said rotatable frame;

a first drive mechanism engaged to the first and second pedal means and the main drive shaft, wherein the rotational energy created by the first and second pedal means is transferred through the first drive mechanism to rotate the main drive shaft;

a tension sprocket mounted to said rotatable frame for maintaining tension on the first drive mechanism; and

a second drive mechanism engaged to said rotation mechanism and the main drive shaft wherein rotational energy is transferred from the main drive shaft through the second drive mechanism to said rotation mechanism, to rotate said frame about the primary gear.

2. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 1, wherein the brace is mounted generally perpendicular to said rotatable frame.

3. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 2, wherein the support structure elevates the rotatable frame such that the user, while operating the rotatable exercise apparatus, can safely rotate said rotatable frame in the absence of contacting the ground.

4. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 3, wherein the longitudinal axis of the primary gear is the user'"'"'s center of rotation about which said rotatable frame rotates.

5. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneous providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 4, wherein the rotation mechanism further comprises a multi-geared rotation mechanism.

6. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, less, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 5, wherein the multi-geared rotation mechanism comprises:

a first rotatable shaft, having a first end and second end, said first rotatable shaft being rotatably secured within a bearing means, wherein said bearing means are secured within a coupling means, wherein said coupling means is mounted to said frame;

a first driven sprocket mounted to the first end of said first rotatable shaft, wherein said second drive mechanism rotatably engages said first driven sprocket to rotate said first driven sprocket and said first rotatable shaft;

a first drive gear mounted to the second end of said first rotatable shaft;

a second rotatable shaft, having a first end and a second end, said second rotatable shaft being rotatably secured within a bearing means, wherein said bearing means are secured within a coupling means, wherein said coupling means is mounted to said frame;

a first driven gear mounted to the first end of said second rotatable shaft, said first driven gear is mechanically engaged to said first drive gear, wherein rotation of the first rotatable shaft and first drive gear initiates instantaneous rotation of the first driven gear and second rotatable shaft; and

a second drive gear mounted to the second end of said second rotatable shaft, said second drive gear mechanically engages said primary gear, wherein rotation of said second rotatable drive shaft causes said second drive gear and said rotatable frame to rotate about said primary gear and said horizontal member.

7. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 6, wherein said first pedal means includes a second sprocket and two opposite extending, opposing pedals formed to comfortably adapt to the user'"'"'s arms.

8. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, hack, sides and neck, as defined in claim 7, wherein said second pedal means includes a third sprocket and two opposite extending, opposing pedals formed to comfortably adapt to the user'"'"'s legs.

9. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 9, said first drive mechanism includes a fourth sprocket mounted to the first end of said main drive shaft and a first drive chain, wherein the fourth sprocket and first drive chain are driven by the rotational movement of the first pedal means and the second pedal means.

10. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 9, said second drive mechanism including a fifth sprocket mounted to the second end of said main drive shaft and a first driven chain engaging said fifth sprocket and said first driven sprocket of said rotation mechanism, wherein rotation of said main drive shaft rotates said fifth sprocket and first driven chain, to rotate said rotation mechanism.

11. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 10, wherein the support structure includes a height adjusting means for adjusting the height of said support structure.

12. The rotatable exercise apparatus for simultaneously providing strenuous exercise to the user'"'"'s arms, legs, stomach, back, sides and neck, as defined in claim 11, wherein the user'"'"'s center of gravity rotates about the user'"'"'s center of rotation in an elliptical manner.