Adjustable ballet bar exercise device

• US 6,743,152 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fluidity Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fluidity Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiss, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATHEW, FENN C
• Application Number:
  US09/955,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20020035016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 482/34, 482/38-42, 482/134, 482/142, 108/50.02, 108/155
• US Class Current: 482/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 1/00 Horizontal bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/027 using player's own weight, e.g. on a platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/22 Dancing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 3/00 Parallel bars or similar apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 4/00 Balance beams

Abstract

An adjustable, stowable, ballet bar exercise device, comprising: a free-standing frame carrying at least one ballet bar, and one or more rigid members coupled to the frame and lying on the floor in use.

Claims

1. An adjustable, stowable, ballet bar exercise device, comprising:

a free standing frame carrying at least one ballet bar;

at least one member coupled to the frame and adapted to be placed on the floor proximate the frame; and

a substantial vertical backrest member couple to the frame, wherein the at least one member coupled to the frame is a rigid planar member coupled to the backrest member and wherein the rigid planar members are pivotally coupled to the frame or the backrest members, so that they can each be folded up against the frame into a stowed position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises at least two substantially vertical frame members.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the frame further comprises at least two legs.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein at least one leg is pivotably coupled to each substantially vertical frame member.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein there are two legs pivoting on each vertical frame member.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein each substantially vertical frame member comprises a collapsible construction of adjustable height.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame carries two ballet bars.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the two bars are coupled together in a ballet bar construction.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the two bars are independently vertically adjustable.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the ballet bar construction is pivotably coupled to the frame.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the collapsing construction comprises a locking feature for releasably holding the at least one ballet bar at a plurality of heights.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the vertical backrest member assists in holding the frame in a vertical position.

13. An adjustable, stowable, ballet bar exercise device, comprising:

a free-standing frame carrying at least one ballet bar, wherein the frame comprises at least two substantially vertical frame members, each comprising a collapsing device of adjustable height, wherein each collapsing device comprises a locking feature for releasably holding at a plurality of heights, and wherein the frame further comprises at least two legs that are pivotably coupled to each vertical frame member;

at least one ballet bar carried by the frame;

a substantially vertical backrest member coupled to the frame;

at least one rigid member hingedly coupled to the backrest member or the frame, and which can be rotated to a horizontal position on the floor; and

at least one mat member, wherein each mat member comprises at least one mat that is adapted to lie on the floor in use, and wherein each mat overlies a rigid member, so that it can be folded up against the backrest into a stowed position.

14. A method of using an adjustable, stowable, ballet bar exercise device, comprising a free-standing frame carrying at least one ballet bar, and at least one rigid, planar member coupled to the frame and adapted to be placed on the floor proximate the frame and a substantially vertical backrest member coupled to the frame wherein the at least one member coupled to the frame is a rigid planar member coupled to the backrest member, wherein the rigid planar members are pivotally coupled to the frame or the backrest member, so that they can each be folded up against the frame into a stowed position, the method comprising:

a user placing at least a portion of the user'"'"'s body on a rigid member, to apply a downward force on the rigid member and thus stabilize the frame; and

the user placing another body portion on a ballet bar, to exercise by use of the device, wherein the user'"'"'s body weight helps maintain the frame in position, to accomplish a free-standing ballet bar.