AU638467B2 - A rest for an exercise apparatus - Google Patents

Description

3 8 47 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952-1969 Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: HANOVER HOLDINGS PTY. LTC.

GARDEN SQUARE LEVEL 1 643 KESSELS ROAD UPPER MT. GRAVATT QUEENSLAND 4122

AUSTRALIA

BRIAN EDWARD HOFMEISTER WERNER FISCHER CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: 0' 565 a A REST FOR AN EXERCISE APPARATUS 1 The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 THIS INVENTION relates to a rest for an exercise apparatus.

In particular, the rest of the invention is suitable for use with the exercise apparatus the subject of Australian Patent Application 20103/88. The exercise apparatus the subject of that application has a base adapted to rest on or be secured to a support surface and a transversely extending support member. Two rests are located at spaced locations on the support member and the support r member is mounted to the base with resilient biasing means between the support member and the base. The resilient o* biasing means normally retains the support member in one a position and enables the support member to be isolated about

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go that one position.

In the earlier apparatus, the rests formed extensions projecting outwardly from opposite ends of the support member. Those portions of the rests upon which the feet of a user may rest were defined between upstanding stops. These portions between the stops were referred to as 09 tread portions and in one embodiment of the earlier

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application the tread portions were substantially planar.

One disadvantage of this earlier arrangement was that the rests, in use, did not provide a sufficiently stimulating effect for the user's feet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rest for an exercise apparatus which at least minimises the difficulty referred to above.

3 According to one aspect, the invention provides a rest for an exercise apparatus comprising a plurality of massaging elements arranged in an array, a keeper for mounting the elements in position and providing z surface of the rest, said keeper having a plurality of apertl.res through which the elements partially extend and enabling the elements to move relative to the keeper whereby during use, a user's foot may contact the elements and be caused to move over the elements to provide a stimulating effect to the user's foot.

.lO According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an exercise apparatus having a base adapted to 00 rest on or be secured to a support surface, a transversely extending support member, said support member including two rests located at spaced locations on the support member, an arm extending from said support member intermediate said rests and resilient biasing means coupling said arm to said base and .0o normally retaining the support member in a rest position whereby said support member may be oscillated about said rest position by a load alternately applied to each said rest by a ;goo user and wherein said rests are constructed as mentioned above.

s The massaging elements may have any convenient shape. For example, the massaging elements may be spherical or cylindrical in shape or indeed may be any other convenient shape.. The massaging elements are arranged in an array projecting outwardly from the surface of the rest. The elements are preferably balls made of suitable material. The array may consist of two linear spaced rows of massaging 1 4 elements where the elements of one row are staggered in relation to the elements of the other row. More than two rows may be present and the elements need not be staggered. The massaging elements are movable relative to the rest. Thus, where the massaging elements are spherical they may be held relative to the rest for rotation. In this way, the elements provide a minimum amount of resistance to the movement of the user's foot across the rest. Where the elements are cylindrical in shape, they are mounted for movement relative to the rest. This movement may be about a longitudinal axis of each cylindrical element. It is preferred that the axis of 00 o rotation, where the element is cylindrical, extend along the 4, S support member. Where the elements are spherical in shape the axis of rotation may be variable and need not necessarily always extend along the support member.

To enable the massaging elements to be mounted for movement relative to the support member, a keeper is employed.

The keeper forms an upper surface of the rest and the S massaging element extend part. way through respective apertures 2Vz in the keeper such that the apertures in the keeper provide a bearing surface to facilitate movement or rotation of the 0000 0 elements. It is preferred that the keeper be recessed into the rest although this is not necessary. The keeper may be fixed to the rest in any suitable fashion for example, fasteners may be employed. The keeper may comprise an apertured plate.

The base of the apparatus preferably has a ground or support engaging surface. The ground engaging surface may be treated or otherwise adapted to frictionally resist movement over the ground. For example, the ground engaging surface may have a friction coating such as a rubber coating or may be contoured or serrated. The base has a raised portion. The raised portion may have any desired shape but preferably is generally cylindrical in shape. If desired, the ground engaging surface may comprise a skirt extending around the raised portion. To reduce the weight of the base,

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either or both of the skirt and the raised portion may be apertured. These apertures not only serve to reduce the weight of the apparatus but one may function as a handle or Se grip enabling the apparatus to be grasped by the user.

The transversely extending support member of the

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Sapparatus includes an arm for securing or mounting it to the base. The support member is preferably elongate and has opposed end portions relative to which the rests may be mounted. In one embodiment, the rests form integral e extensions to the support member. However, it is preferred that the rests be formed as separate components and secured

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to the opposed ends of the support member. It is preferred that the method of securing the rests to the support member iI S° enable the rests to swivel or pivot relative to the support ee e S0 member. This pivotal movement may be along an axis extending longitudinally of the support member. By enabling the rests to pivot in this way, the surface from which the massaging elements project may be tilted during use to ensure that the 6 massaging elements are oriented in an optimum position for providing the massaging effect. In one embodiment, the connection between the rests and the support member is provided by a bore and a spigot. The spigot may extend from the rest and the ends of the support member may be provided with bores although the inverse of this may also be employed.

The ends of the support member may be formed as two opposed arms. These arms may be cranked downwardly and forwardly and have the rests projecting from them.

r The'rests may act as handgrips or footrests. The resilient biasing means functions to maintain the support 0*sS member in a rest position when not in use and ensures that it 555@ returns to that rest position after use is terminated. The biasing means may be a spring. Alternatively, the biasing 45 means may consist of one or more hydraulic or pneumatic 595 5 cylinder assembly. In another embodiment, the biasing means may comprise a resilient material which couples or connects the support member to the base. In a particular preferred embodiment the biasing means comprises a body of resilient material and the support member has a portion thereof bounded

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thereto or embedded within it such that the member may be subjected to torsional forces and returns the support member oo to a rest position when those forces are released.

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The invention will now be described by way of example -'ith reference to the drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 7 Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rest according to another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Figure 1, the apparatus 10 has a base 11. The base has an upper part consisting of a cylindrical portion 12 and an inclined peripheral portion 13. A skirt 14 r extends outwardly from and around the portion 13. A circular cap 15 extends over the cylindrical raised portion and is 9 secured thereto by fasteners 16. Transversely extending e support member 20 is mounted for pivotal reciprocal movement ~relative to the base 11.

*15 Member 20 has rests 21, 22 upon which the feet of a user may rest. The rest 21 is defined by a tread portion located between upstanding stops 23, 24. Stops 23, 24 inhibit movement of the user's foot off the tread portion.

Rest 22, likewise has upstanding stops 25, 26.

20 As is evident from Figure 1, the apparatus 10 is substantially star shaped when viewed in plan.

Greater detail of the apparatus 10 is shown in Figure 2. Cylindrical portion 12 forms a chamber 30 having a bottom wall 31 formed with a square recess 32. The transverse member 20 has a downwardly extending arm 33 which extends through the cap 15. A bush or bearing 34 is shown positioned between the arm 33 and the cap 15. When the 8 member 20 is caused to pivot, it does so about an axis extending along arm 33. Extending outwardly from the arm 33 is a fixing member or disc 35. Disc 35 is bonded or otherwise secured to an upper surface of a block 36 of resilient material. The plate 37 is bonded or otherwise secured to the lower surface of the block and held against rotation by recess 32. This couples or connects the support member to the base.

Figure 1 shows that each rest consists of an apertured keeper 40 and a concave body 41. A plurality of spherical massaging elements 42 project partially through $Goo a o keeper 40 and are retained within the body 41 when the keeper *:o is fixed thereto by fasteners 43. The elements 42 are held in this way and are free to rotate.

The rests 21, 22 are free to swivel along the direction indicated by arrows A.

Figure 3 shows an alternative rest where elements 42 are replaced by cylindrical rollers 50 mounted to the body 41 by keeper 40. Elements 50 rotate about axes extending 20 along the rest.

In Figure 4 an alternative embodiment of an exercise apparatus is shown. The apparatus 60 has a base 61.

The base is substantially of a figure eight shape when viewed in plan. Central portion 62 of the base 61 is similar in function and purpose to cylindrical portion 12 of the Figure 1 embodiment except that in this embodiment it is substantially trapezoidal in shape. Support member 63 is 9 mounted to the central base portion 62 in a similar fashion to the way member 20 is mounted to portion 12 of Figure 1.

Member 63 has two spaced rests 64, 65. Each rest has a keeper 66 which retains massaging elements 67 in position for rotation. Elements 67 are spherical in shape and extend partially through apertures in the keepers 66.

Member 63 has inclined ramps 68, 69 adjacent the keepers and these ramps have a non-slip surface provided by ridges 70. The user has the option of placing his feet on the ramps 68 -or over elements 67 when using the apparatus.

Stops 71, 72 are present at the distal ends of the support Smember 63. These stops need not be present but if present assist in the alignment of the user's feet on the rests.

In use, the apparatus is placed on a support .S surface such as a floor. A user places his feet on rests and causes the support member to oscillate about an axis perpendicular to it. When the user removes his feet from the apparatus, the resilient biasing causes the support member to •return to its rest position as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The ,o 20 elements massage the soles of the user's feet and the rests

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may swivel relative to support member.

The apparatus, rather than merely rest upon a surface, may be permanently fixed to a surface or a suppc.'t.

The apparatus need not be mounted or supported on a horizontal surface but may be mounted relative to an inclined surface or upright wall. Whilst the use of the apparatus has been described as suitable for exercising feet or legs it should be appreciated that this by way of example only. The apparatus of the invention may be used by grasping rests with the hands and in this way the user's arms may be exercised.

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Claims (6)

1. A rest for an exercise apparatus comprising a plurality of massaging elements arranged in an array, a keeper for mounting the elements in position and providing a surface of the rest, said keeper having a plurality of apertures through which the elements partially extend and enabling the elements to move relative to the keeper whereby during use, a user's foot may contact the elements and be caused to move over the elements to provide a stimulating effect to the

4.L•0 user's foot. 2. The rest of Claim 1 wherein the elements are spherical in shape. 3. The rest of Claim 1 wherein the elements are cylindrical in shape. 6• 4. The rest of any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the array consists of two spaced rows of said elements. The rest of Claim 4 wherein the rows are staggered with respect to one another. 0*

6. The rest of Claim 5 wherein said elements are 26* mounted for rotational movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the rest.

7. A rest for an exercise apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

8. An exercise apparatus having a base adapted to rest on or be secured to a support surface, a transversely extending support member, said support member including two rests located at spaced locations on the support member, an v 12 arm extending from said support member intermediate said rests and resilient biasing means coupling said arm to said base and normally retaining the support member in a rest position whereby said support member may be oscillated about said rest position by a load alternately applied to each said rest by a user and wherein said rests are constructed according to any one of Claims 1 to 7.

9. An exercise apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. f DATED this 19th day of April 1993 HANOVER HOLDINGS PTY. LTD. By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. *o *0 0 OOO4 4 O 0 8 0000 S 0 r S