Exercise equipment apparatus and method of use in tractor-trailers with sleepers

• US 7,740,562 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Levi Jones
• Original Assignee: Levi Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Levi
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US11/800,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.33, 296/24.38, 296/24.4, 296/37.6, 296/56, 296/107.08, 296/190.02, D12/93, D12/94, 482/52, 482/148, 482/904, 482/1, 482/4, 482/51, 482/54, 482/57, 482/910
• US Class Current: 482/51
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/1618 on a door or a door frame
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/00 Space saving
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/06 incorporated in cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/56 electrically folded and erected
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0036 Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/00 Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like primarily intended for stowing loads in load-transporting vehicles B60P; arrangements for stowing spare wheels B62D43/00

Abstract

Apparatus and method of factory or post-manufacture installation of at least two exercise equipment units in tractor-trailer vehicles with sleepers. The exercise equipment units are stored initially in storage compartments located under beds behind the driver and passenger seats. The exercise equipment units are securely held within the storage compartments by storage locking mechanisms. Each exercise equipment unit is movable manually or electronically from the storage compartment to an operational or use position within the tractor-trailer walking space or sleeping area. In the operational position, the selected exercise equipment unit is secured by an operation locking mechanism in the operational position; adjusted and setup for use by multiple users. The exercise equipment units are connected to a computer for sensing, remote monitoring and displaying of vital signs of at least two users. The selected exercise equipment unit may be returned manually or electronically to either the first or said second storage compartment and re-secured in the storage compartment.

Claims

1. A tractor-trailer cab comprising:

a driver'"'"'s area comprising at least one seat; and

a sleeping area located behind the driver'"'"'s area, the sleeping area comprising;

a floor connecting the sleeping area to the driver'"'"'s area;

at least one bed located at a height above the floor which is sufficient to allow at least one exercise equipment unit to be used while at least a portion of the at least one exercise equipment unit is under the at least one bed;

a storage compartment installed under the at least one bed located at the height above the floor in the sleeping area of the tractor-trailer cab, the storage compartment comprising the at least one exercise equipment unit, wherein the at least one exercise equipment unit is installed as a component of the tractor-trailer cab;

a storage locking mechanism functionally attached to the at least one bed, wherein said storage locking mechanism;

engages said at least one exercise equipment unit so as to secure said at least one exercise equipment unit in a fixed position in said storage compartment at the height above the floor; and

releases said at least one exercise equipment unit from the fixed position at the height above the floor of the sleeping area so that said at least one exercise equipment unit may be moved in a swinging motion from the storage compartment at the height above the floor down to the floor of the sleeping area; and

an operation locking mechanism functionally attached to the at least one bed, wherein said operation locking mechanism engages said at least one exercise equipment unit, so as to assist in maintaining said at least one exercise equipment unit on the floor of the sleeping area for operation by a user, wherein said operation locking mechanism is assisted by the reengagement of said storage locking mechanism to said at least one exercise equipment unit.

2. The tractor-trailer cab according to claim 1, wherein upon completion of an exercise routine, said operation locking mechanism and said storage locking mechanisms are released and the at least one exercise equipment unit is returned by the user to the storage compartment and re-secured by said storage locking mechanism.

3. The tractor-trailer cab according to claim 1, wherein said at least one exercise equipment unit is electronically released from the storage compartment.

4. The tractor-trailer cab according to claim 3, wherein upon completion of an exercise routine, said at least one exercise equipment unit is electronically returned to the storage compartment and re-secured by said storage locking mechanism.

5. The tractor-trailer cab according to claim 1, wherein said at least one exercise equipment unit comprises one or more of a treadmill, a cycle, a bicycle, a stair climber or a tread climber.

6. A tractor-trailer cab comprising:

storage compartment means for storing at least one exercise equipment unit in at least one storage compartment, wherein the storage compartment means is installed in and secured to an inside roof area of the tractor-trailer cab, the tractor-trailer cab comprising a sleeping area under the inside roof area, and wherein the storage compartment means follows a shape of the inside roof area;

locking means, functionally attached to the storage compartment means, for securing and locking said at least one exercise equipment unit in a stored position in said at least one storage compartment at a height above a floor of the sleeping area, wherein the locking means comprises at least one retainer to lock said at least one equipment unit in the stored position, wherein the at least one retainer is utilized to assist in maintaining said at least one exercise equipment unit in the stored position in the event of a collision or rollover involving the tractor-trailer cab when said locking means is locked, wherein a release of said locking means releases said at least one exercise equipment unit to be pulled down in a swinging motion from the storage compartment means at the height above the floor down to the floor of the sleeping area while keeping said at least one exercise equipment unit secured to the storage compartment means;

operation means functionally attached to the floor of the sleeping area for securing and locking said at least one exercise equipment unit in a fixed operation or use position to the floor of the sleeping area, wherein the means for securing and locking said at least one exercise equipment unit in an operation or use position in the sleeping area operates in cooperation with the released locking means to secure either said at least one exercise equipment unit to both the storage compartment means and to the floor of the sleeping area of the tractor-trailer cab.

7. A method of using exercise equipment in tractor-trailer vehicles with sleepers comprising the steps of:

installing a storage compartment under at least one bed in a sleeping area of a tractor-trailer cab, the storage compartment comprising at least one exercise equipment unit, wherein the at least one exercise equipment unit is installed as a component on the tractor-trailer cab and wherein the at least one bed is located at a height above a floor which is sufficient to allow at least one exercise equipment unit to be used while at least a portion of the at least one exercise equipment unit is under the at least one bed, in a sleeping area located behind a driver'"'"'s area in the tractor-trailer cab;

locking, using a storage locking mechanism functionally attached to the at least one bed at the height above the floor in the sleeping area of the tractor-trailer cab, the at least one exercise equipment unit in the storage compartment in a stored position in the sleeping area of the tractor-trailer cab, wherein locking the at least one exercise equipment unit in the storage compartment comprises;

engaging the at least one exercise equipment unit so as to secure the at least one exercise equipment unit in a fixed position in the storage compartment at the height above the floor of the sleeping area; and

releasing the at least one exercise equipment unit from the fixed position at the height above the floor of the sleeping area so that at least one exercise equipment unit may be moved from the storage compartment at the height above the floor of the sleeping area down to the floor of the sleeping area; and

securing, using an operation locking mechanism functionally attached to the at least one bed, the at least one equipment unit in an operational or use position in the sleeping area, wherein securing the at least one exercise equipment unit in an operational or use position in the sleeping area comprises engaging the at least one exercise equipment unit so as to assist in maintaining the at least one exercise equipment unit in a fixed and locked position on the floor of the sleeping area for operation by a user, wherein the operation locking mechanism is assisted by the reengagement of said storage locking mechanism to the at least one exercise equipment unit.

8. A method of using exercise equipment in tractor-trailer vehicles with sleepers comprising the steps of:

installing a storage compartment under at least one bed in a sleeping area of a tractor-trailer cab, the storage compartment comprising at least one exercise equipment unit, wherein the at least one exercise equipment unit is installed as a component on the tractor-trailer cab and wherein the at least one bed is located at a height above a floor which is sufficient to allow at least one exercise equipment unit to be used while at least a portion of the at least one exercise equipment unit is under the at least one bed, in a sleeping area located behind a driver'"'"'s area in the tractor-trailer cab;

locking, using a storage locking mechanism functionally attached to the at least one bed at the height above the floor in the sleeping area of the tractor-trailer cab, the at least one exercise equipment unit in the storage compartment in a stored position in the sleeping area of the tractor-trailer cab, wherein locking the at least one exercise equipment unit in the storage compartment comprises;

engaging the at least one exercise equipment unit so as to secure the at least one exercise equipment unit in a fixed position in the storage compartment at the height above the floor of the sleeping area; and

releasing the at least one exercise equipment unit from the fixed position at the height above the floor of the sleeping area so that at least one exercise equipment unit may be moved from the storage compartment at the height above the floor of the sleeping area down to the floor of the sleeping area; and

securing, using an operation locking mechanism functionally attached to the at least one bed, the at least one equipment unit in an operational or use position in the sleeping area, wherein securing the at least one exercise equipment unit in an operational or use position in the sleeping area comprises engaging the at least one exercise equipment unit so as to assist in maintaining the at least one exercise equipment unit in a fixed and locked position on the floor of the sleeping area for operation by a user, wherein the operation locking mechanism is assisted by the reengagement of said storage locking mechanism to the at least one exercise equipment unit.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

moving said first exercise equipment unit in a swinging motion from within said first storage compartment to the fixed operational or use position in the sleeping area; and

adjusting and setting said first exercise equipment unit in a position for use by multiple users.

10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a connection of said first exercise equipment unit to a computer input;

detecting, using a computer connected to the computer input, vital signs of multiple users;

transmitting information of the vital signs to the computer, wherein the computer is located at remote location with respect to the first exercise equipment unit, for remote monitoring; and

displaying the vital signs of the multiple on the computer.

11. A method according to claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

moving said second exercise equipment unit in a swinging motion from the from within said second storage compartment to the fixed operational or use position in the sleeping area; and

adjusting and setting said second exercise equipment unit in a position for use by multiple users.

12. A method according to claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

moving said second exercise equipment unit in a swinging motion from within said second storage compartment to the fixed operational or use position in the sleeping area; and

adjusting and setting said second exercise equipment unit in a position for use by multiple users.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a connection of said second exercise equipment unit to a computer input;

detecting, using a computer connected to the computer input, vital signs of multiple users;

transmitting information of the vital signs to the computer, wherein the computer is located at remote location with respect to the second exercise equipment unit, for remote monitoring; and

displaying the vital signs of the multiple users on the computer.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

returning said second exercise equipment unit to said second storage compartment; and

re-securing said second exercise equipment unit in said second storage compartment.