GB2524950A

GB2524950A - Exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2524950A
Application number: GB1404396.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Stephen Roddy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-12
Filing date: 2014-03-12
Publication date: 2015-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-12
Also published as: GB2524950B; GB201404396D0

Abstract

An exercise apparatus has base 12 with front-rear axis; a first body support 14 coupled to the base, which can be raised or lowered and second body support 16, coupled to the base, which can be extended or retracted relative to the base, possibly by telescoping means. The first body support comprises a body receiving portion 22a, 22b, which may comprise handles, and the second body support comprises a body receiving portion 20, which may comprise a footrest. There may be an additional support member 26A, 26B to support the base and first body support. Preferably, the first body support comprises an extendable locating member, which can extend or be retracted relative to the base being pivotally coupled to the base and the supporting member. The handle can possibly be raised by pivoting means relative to the frame.

Description

EXERCISE APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise apparatus. The invention relates particularly to exercise apparatus for facilitating the performance of press-ups.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an exercise apparatus comprising a base having a front-to-rear axis; a first body support coupled to the base and movable between a relatively raised and a relatively lowered position; and a second body support coupled to the base and movable with respect to the base between a relatively retracted position and a relatively extended position, wherein the first body support comprises a body receiving portion which, in the relatively raised position, is higher with respect to the base (and preferably more rearward with respect to the base) than when in said lowered position, and wherein said second body support comprises a body receiving portion which, in said extended position is more rearward with respect to the body than when in said retracted position.

In typical embodiments the body receiving portion of said second body support is located rearwardly of (and preferably lower than, in one or more positions of the first body support) the body receiving portion of said first body support.

Preferably, said first body support is capable of adopting at least one and preferably a plurality of intermediate positions between said relatively raised position and said relatively lowered position wherein, when moving from any one position to a next position in a direction from said relatively raised position to said relatively lowered position, said body receiving portion is lower with respect to the base (and preferably more forward with respect to the base) in said next position than when in said any one position.

Preferably the apparatus includes means for fixing said first body support in said relatively lowered position or said relatively raised position or any one of said intermediate position(s).

Preferably said second body support is capable of adopting at least one and preferably a plurality of intermediate positions between said relatively retracted position and said relatively extended position, wherein when moving in a direction from said relatively retracted position to said relatively extended position from any one position to the next position said body receiving portion is relatively more rearward with respect of said body when in said next position than when in said any one position.

Typically the apparatus includes means for fixing said second body support in said relatively retracted position or said relatively extended position or any one of its intermediate position(s).

Conveniently, said first body support is pivotally coupled to said base for pivoting movement with respect to said base about an axis that is transverse of said base and substantially perpendicular with said front to rear axis. In such embodiments the relatively raised position corresponds to a relatively upright position, and the relatively lowered position corresponds to a relatively reclined position.

In the preferred embodiment said second body support is coupled, preferably slidably coupled, to said base for movement in said front to rear direction. For example said second body support may be telescopically coupled to said base.

Preferably, in said relatively lowered position, said first body support is disposed against and substantially parallel with said base.

In preferred embodiments said apparatus includes locating means for determining the position of said first body support with respect of said base. The locating means typically includes at least one support member extending between said base and said first body support, typically orientated in said front to rear direction. In preferred embodiments the locating means further includes at least one extendible member preferably a respective extending member for each support member the or each extendible member being extendible with respect to the base in said front to rear direction and wherein the or each support member extends between said first body support and the, or a respective extendible member, being pivotally coupled to each.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description and its specific embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus embodying the invention, the apparatus being shown with a first body support in a relatively upright position and a second body support in a relatively extended position; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 shown with the first body support in a relatively reclined position and the second body support in a relatively retracted position; Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 shown with the first body support in an intermediate position and the second body support in an intermediate position; and Figure 6 is a side view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings there is shown generally indicated as loan exercise apparatus embodying the invention. As is described in more detail hereinafter, the apparatus 10 is particularly intended for facilitating the performance of press-ups.

The apparatus includes a base 12, a first body support 14 and a second body support 16. The base conveniently comprises first and second spaced apart, substantially parallel bars 13A, 13B, typically with at least one interconnecting cross piece 15. In preferred embodiments the base 12 carries a footplate 24, preferably located between the first and second body supports 14, 16.

The first body support 14 is coupled to the base 12 for movement between relatively raised and lowered positions, which in the illustrated embodiment correspond respectively to a relatively upright position (shown in Figures 1 and 2) and a relatively reclined position (shown in Figures 3 and 4). The base 12 has a front to rear axis as indicated by arrow A in Figure 2.

In the preferred embodiment the first body support 14 is pivotally coupled to the base 12 for movement about a pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular with said front to rear direction and runs transversely of the base 12 (substantially perpendicular to bars 1 3A, I SB in this example).

In preferred embodiments the first body support 14 is disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to the base 12 when in the relatively upright state. It is also preferred that, when in the relatively reclined state, the first body support 14 folds against the base 12 and is advantageously substantially parallel with the base 12.

The first body support 14 comprises a body receiving portion 18 which is shaped in dimension so that it may be grasped by user's hands, preferably providing respective spaced apart hand grips 22A, 22B for each hand. The hand grips 22A, 22B are spaced apart in a direction that is transverse of the base 12 and substantially perpendicular with the front to rear direction to enable a user facing in a forward direction to grasp each grip with a respective hand. The body receiving portion 18 conveniently takes the form of a bar. Advantageously the hand grips 22A, 22B are removably mounted on the body receiving portion 18.

The first body support 14 includes one or more spacing members 17 which support the body receiving portion 18 spaced apart from the pivot axis of the body support 14. In the illustrated embodiment first and second spaced apart spacing members 1 7A, 1 7B are provided, conveniently in the form of a respective post. In alternative embodiments, (not illustrated) one or more such posts or similar spacing members may be provided.

In the preferred embodiment the first body support 14 is movable with respect to the base 12 between a plurality of positions, including the relatively upright position and the relatively reclined position. Typically it may adopt at least one, and preferably a plurality of, other positions intermediate the upright position and the reclined position. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the body support 14 in an intermediate position. In each position of the body support 14 the body receiving portion 18 adopts a different position with respect to the base 12. In particular, the height of the body receiving portion 18 above the base 12 becomes lower in successive positions as the body support 14 moves from the upright position to the reclined position. In the preferred embodiment, the position of the body receiving portion 18 also changes in the front to rear direction, in particular such that it becomes progressively more forward as the body support 14 moves from the upright position to the reclined position.

In preferred embodiments the device 10 includes means for fixing the first body support 14 in at least some and optionally all of its adoptable positions (in the illustrated embodiment the body support 14 does not need to be locked in its most reclined position (Figures 3 and 4) since it is folded against the base 12). The fixing means may conveniently be implemented by providing means for releasably fixing the extendible bars 28A, 28B with respect to the bar 1 3A, 1 3B, for example by providing screws or pins (which may be removable or resiliently biased) and corresponding apertures 33 in the bars 13A, 13B, 28A, 28B as appropriate.

In preferred embodiments the apparatus 10 includes locating means which determines the position adopted by the body support 14, providing support to the body support 14 as necessary in the respective position. In the illustrated embodiment the locating means comprises first and second support members 26A, 26B, one for each of the support posts 17A, 17B. In alternative embodiments one or more other support members may alternatively be provided. Each support member 26A, 26B, is pivotably coupled to a respective extendable member, conveniently in the form of a bar 28A, 28B.

Each extendable bar 28A, 28B is coupled to the base 12 and is extendable with respect to the base in the front to rear direction. For example bars 28A, 28B may be telescopically mounted on a respective one of the bars 13A, 13B of the base. The support bars 26A, 26B are pivotally coupled to the body support 14 (conveniently to the respective bars 1 7A, 1 7B). Conveniently opposite ends of the support bars 26A, 26B are pivotally coupled to a respective one of the body supports 14 and the extendible bars 28A, 28B.

When the first body support 14 is in its upright position, the extendable bars 28A, 26B are in a relatively retracted position and the support bars 26A, 2GB extend between the bars 28A, 28B and the body support 14, typically being obliquely disposed with respect to the base. Extension of the bars 28A, 28B in the forward direction causes the respective support bar 26A, 26B to pivot about its coupling with the bars 28A, 28B (in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2) accompanied by pivoting of the body support 14 in the forward direction (clockwise as viewed in Figure 2) and associated pivoting of the support bars 26A, 26B with respect to the body support 14.

In preferred embodiments, the support bars 26A, 2GB have a recessed underside into which the respective bar 1 3A, 1 3B fits when the respective extendible bars 28A, 288 are relatively extended and the body support 14 is in its most reclined position.

The support bars 26A, 26B are preferably also shaped to define a seat 30A, 30B for receiving a portion of the respective post 1 7A, 1 7B (in particular the portion between the respective pivot coupling between the bar 26A, 26B and the post 17A, 178, and the body receiving portion 18). The respective seat 30A, 30B is preferably also shaped to receive the body receiving portion 18. When the body support iBis in its most reclined position, the respective portions of the bar 17A, 17B and the body receiving portion 18 are seated in the respective seat 30A, SOB.

As can best be seen from Figures 5 and 6, the recessed underside and seats 30A, BOB improve the compactness of the apparatus 10 when the support 14 is in its most reclined state. This facilitates storage and transport of the apparatus 10.

The second body support 16 is coupled to the base 12 for movement in the front to rear direction with respect to the base. The body support 16 comprises a body receiving portion 20 which is located rearwardly of the body receiving portion 18. The body receiving portion 20 is also located such that, for at least some of the adoptable positions of the first body support 18, it is lower than the portion 18. In the preferred embodiment the body receiving portion 20 is located substantially at the level of the base 12.

Conveniently the body receiving portion 20 comprises a bar or other suitable member. Typically it extends in a direction that is transverse of the base 12 and substantially perpendicular with the front to rear direction. The bar 20 or other member is shaped in dimension to be used as a foot rest, and preferably also such that it is capable of being grasped by user's hands. Advantageously, the body portion 20 is configured, e.g. with any suitable connectors, to removably receive grips, conveniently the grips 22A, 22B, at opposite ends.

The second body support 16 is conveniently slidably mounted on the base 12, for example telescopically mounted. To this end the second body support 16 may comprise the first and second extendable bars 32A, 32B coupled to the base 12 for reciprocating movement in the front to rear direction. This may be achieved by telescopically coupling the bars 32A, 32B with the bars 13A, 13B of the base 12.

The second body support 16 is movable between a relatively retracted position (e.g. as shown in Figures 3 and 4 although it will be apparent this is not the most retracted position that the support 16 of the illustrated embodiment can take) and a relatively extended position (shown in Figures 1 and 2) in which it is more rearward with respect to the base 12 than when in the retracted position.

Preferably the body support 16 may adopt one or more other positions intermediate the retracted position and the extended position (e.g. as shown in Figures 5 and 6). The arrangement is such that as the body support 16 moves in a direction from the retracted position to the extended position, the body receiving portion 20 moves rearwardly. Preferably, the body receiving portion 18 maintains a substantially constant height with respect to the base 12 in at least some of and preferably all of its

adoptable positions.

Preferably the apparatus 10 includes means for fixing or locking the second body support 16 in any one of its adoptable positions. The fixing means may take any convenient conventional form (e.g. screws or pins (which may be removable or resiliently biased)), the bars 13A, 13B and extendible bars 32A, 32B being provided with corresponding apertures 34 or sockets as applicable.

In a first mode of use, a user places his feet on the body receiving part 20 and his hands on the handgrips 22A, 228. The relative positions of the body support members 14,16 are adjusted to suit the user's size and the level of difficulty of press-ups to be performed. Typically the relative positions of the body supports 14, 16 are adjusted such that the user's arms extend approximately perpendicularly from his torso. The more forward and lower the body receiving portion 18 is, the more of the user's body weight is supported by the user's arms and so the more difficult the press-up is, and vice versa. Typically, with the first body support 14 in its upright position, the second body support 16 adopts a relatively rearward position to enable the user to adopt the desired posture.

Subsequently as the user moves the first body support 14 towards its reclined position, the second body support 14 is retracted by a corresponding amount in order to allow the user to maintain the desired body posture.

In an alternative mode of use the user may place its feet on the body receiving portion 18 and grasp the body receiving portion 20 with his hands (preferably with the grips 22A, 22B mounted on the bar 20) such that, during the exercise, his feet are above his hands. This increases the level of difficulty of the press-ups. As before, the relative positions of the body supports 14, 16 are adjusted to allow the userto maintain a desired posture for the exercise.

In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) the first body support may be configured such that the body receiving portion 18 may be raised and lowered with respect to the base 12 but without (necessarily) moving in the front to rear direction. For example the body receiving portion 18 may be coupled to the base 12 by a telescopically extendablefretractable support. Such a support may be disposed such that the portion 18 is raised and lowered substantially perpendicularly with respect to the base 12 (in which case there is no front to rear movement of the portion 18) or such that the portion 18 is raised and lowered obliquely with respect to the base 12 (in which case there is some front to rear movement of the portion 18). Such an embodiment may be used in a manner similar to that described above whereby the relative positions of the body supports are selected to allow the user to maintain desired body posture.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An exercise apparatus comprising a base having a front-to-rear axis; a first body support coupled to the base and movable between a relatively raised and a relatively lowered position; and a second body support coupled to the base and movable with respect to the base between a relatively retracted position and a relatively extended position, wherein the first body support comprises a body receiving portion which, in the relatively raised position is higher with respect to the base than when in said lowered position, and wherein said second body support comprises a body receiving portion which, in said extended position, is more rearward with respect to the body than when in said retracted position.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body receiving portion of said first body support is, in the relatively raised position, is higher more rearward with respect to the base than when in said lowered position.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the body receiving portion of said second body support is located rearwardly, with respect to said base, of the body receiving portion of said first body support.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body receiving portion of said second body support is, in one or more positions of the first body support, lower than the body receiving portion of said first body support.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first body support is capable of adopting at least one and preferably a plurality of intermediate positions between said relatively raised position and said relatively lowered position, and wherein, when moving from any one position to a next position in a direction from said relatively raised position to said relatively lowered position, said body receiving portion is lower with respect to the base in said next position than when in said any one position.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein when moving from any one position to a next position in a direction from said relatively raised position to said relatively lowered position, said body receiving portion is more forward with respect to the base in said next position than when in said any one position.
7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes means for fixing said first body support in said relatively lowered position or said relatively raised position or any one of said intermediate position(s).
8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein said second body support is capable of adopting at least one and preferably a plurality of intermediate positions between said relatively retracted position and said relatively extended position, wherein when moving in a direction from said relatively retracted position to said relatively extended position from any one position to the next position said body receiving portion is relatively more rearward with respect of said body when in said next position than when in said any one position.
9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for fixing said second body support in said relatively retracted position or said relatively extended position oi any one of its intermediate position(s).
10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein said first body support is pivotably coupled to said base for pivoting movement with respect to said base about an axis that is transverse of said base and substantially perpendicular with said front to rear axis.
11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said relatively raised position corresponds to a relatively upright position, and the relatively lowered position corresponds to a relatively reclined position.
12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said second body support is coupled, preferably slidably coupled, to said base for movement in the front to rear direction.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second body support is telescopically coupled to said base.
14. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, in said relatively lowered position, said first body support is disposed against and substantially parallel with said base.
15. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further including locating means for determining the position of said first body support with respect of said base.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the locating means comprises at least one support member extending between said base and said first body support, preferably orientated in said front to rear direction.
17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the locating means further includes at least one extendible member, preferably a respective extending member for each support member, the or each extendible member being extendible with respect to the base in said front to rear direction, and wherein the or each support member extends between said first body support and the, or a respective, extendible member, being pivotally coupled to each.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the or each extendible member is coupled, preferably slidably coupled, to said base for movement in the front to rear direction.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the or each extendible member is telescopically coupled to said base.
20. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said body receiving portion of said first body support is shaped and dimensioned to be grasped by a user's hands.
21. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said body receiving portion of said second body support comprises a foot rest.