GB2230963A - Exercise apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Exercise apparatus comprising a shaft, one end of which is fitted with a handle and the other end fitted with means to function either as a handle grasp or a foot stirrup. The foot rest part of the stirrup may be composed of a flat strip flexible material, the underside of which also functions as a partially encompassing pressure pad for use against the side or instep of a person's foot, thereby providing a link between an upper and lower limb or both upper limbs which allows a user to exert an expansive or compressive force along the length of the shaft whilst using one limb to offer a degree of resistance to the movement of another. The handle may be movable relative to the shaft against the action of a spring. Also, the length of the apparatus may be adjustable. <IMAGE>

Description

EXERCISE APPARATUS This invention relates to exercise apparatus. It is well recognised that regular exercise is a valuable aid to health for people of all ages and particularly for the elderly for whom it will help to retain mobility and independence.

However, the cultivation of exercise as part of a lifelong habit like brushing the teeth is not possible for most people because a variety of movements are required, some free and some against resistance in order to obtain a balanced level of fitness. This requires some knowledge, some equipment and a time-consuming routine. Furthermore, requirements of persons of differing age and social groups may vary considerably.

The object of this invention is to provide a simplified and habitual means to obtain overall body strength and perform aerobic exercise for people of a wide range of background, age and capability.

This object is achieved by providing exercise apparatus comprising a shaft, one end of said shaft being fitted with a handle and the other end with foot engagement means which the foot can hold capive thereby providing a link between an upper limb and a lower limb (or in alternative use between both upper limbs) which allows a user to exert an expansive or compressive force along the length of said shaft whilst using one limb to offer a degree of resistance to the movement of the other.

In one embodiment the footrest part of said stirrup may be composed of a flat strip of flexible material, the underside of which also functions as a partially encompassing pressure pad for use against the side or instep of the person's foot.

Said handle may comprise an angled portion of said shaft or alternatively may comprise a stirrup shaped hand grip.

Either or both of said handle and said stirrup may be provided with bearings so that they are rotatable about said shaft.

There may be provided spring means such that said handle is movable axially of said shaft on exertion of force. There may be provided calibration means in order to measure the force exerted when the handle is moved axially of said shaft.

According to another embodiment of the present invention the shaft comprises a telescopic member and said engageable means can be retained by the feet to the floor; said handle means comprises a handlebar which a user may depress towards the base of the member against a means of resistance during one direction of a reciprocating rowing motion and upwardly from the base of the lever against a means of resistance during the reverse direction.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates means to swivel the handle member; Fig. 3 illustrates means to spring load the handle member; Fig. 4 shows means to measure effort rating; Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 illustrate modes of use; Fig. 12 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 13 shows a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a front view of the apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 15 is a cut away side view of the apparatus of Fig. 14 without the resistance means and casing; Fig. 16 illustrates one exercise position using the apparatus of Fig. 14; and Fig. 17 illustrates another exercise position using the apparatus of Fig. 14.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 to 13, there is provided a hollow shaft 1 which is fitted with a spade type handle 2. The handle grip 3 is comprised of an open ended hollow tube which when required can act as a bearing for an insertable double handle bar (not shown). For comfort and convenience of use the handle 2 may swivel and a means of achieving this is shown in Fig. 2 in which the base of the handle is fastened to a hollow tube which serves as an axle 4 and is fitted with two separated metal or plastic sleeve bearings 5. The end of the axle 4 is belled open to retain the bearings 5. This axle assembly is then slidably inserted into the open end of the hollow shaft 1 and securely retained there by making one or more inward indentations on the circumference of the shaft wall into the recess formed by the separation of the bearings 5 on the axle 4.The combined handle and stirrup member at the other end of the shaft could, of course, be made to swivel similarly instead of the handle 2.

The handle/stirrup member 6 is comprised of a stirrup, the footrest (or handle hold) part of which is provided by a flat and elasticated strap 7. The end of each prong of the stirrup fork is fitted with a spreader bar 8, slightly shorter in length than the width of the elasticated strap 7 which is slightly tensioned between the said spreader bars and then fastened off at each end by rivets or bolts to the outside of the arched frame forming the stirrup.

It may be desirable for a user of the apparatus to be able to measure and record an increase of strength - both in an expansive or contractive mode of effort - and Figs. 3 and 4 show how this may be achieved. In Fig. 3 the handle member is fitted to a tubular axle 4 carrying two springs 10 and 11, one each side of a metal sleeve bearing 12 which is supplied with a slotted recess 13, and both springs and bearing are retained in position on the axle 4 by outwardly belling the hollow end of the axle tube. The axle assembly is slid into the hollow end of the shaft 1 leaving the spring 10 exposed.

The wall of the outer circumference of the shaft 1 may then be inwardly indented into the recess 13 beneath thereby securing retention of the assembly. The handle may thus be compressed inwardly or pulled outwardly from the end of the shaft 1 against the pressure of the springs whilst still retaining the ability to swivel.

In order to measure the effort used the base of the handle 2 as shown in Fig. 4 is fitted with a tubular sleeve 14 which telescopically fits over the end of shaft 1. The shaft is suitably inscribed with calibration bands 15 and whether the apparatus is being used in a compressive or expansive mode the position of the free end of the tubular sleeve 14 will indicate against the calibration bands a degree of the strength being used.

Figs. 12 and 13 show a second embodiment of the invention in which the hollow shaft 1 and the handle/stirrup member 6 are as described previously. However, in place of the spade type handle 2, the shaft 1 has been bent as shown at 20 so that it slopes backwardly at an angle to the plane of the stirrup 6.

The angled portion 22 of the shaft is covered with a hand grip 24 which may be of a non-slip material.

Some examples of the way in which the apparatus may be used are illustrated and in Fig. 5 the exerciser is using the underside of the footrest as a pressure pad which is partly encompassing the instep of his left foot and is raising his left leg against the inclination of his left arm which is imposing a degree of resistance whilst being forced upwards.

At the limit of the movement the exerciser will relax slightly the upward pressure of his leg and the arm will force the leg to descend again and the process is repeated in reciprocating motion. In this mode of use all the muscles of the abdomen and chest are also simultaneously caused to work and a compressive force is exerted on the length of the shaft of the apparatus.

In the reverse of the above movement the exerciser places his left foot into the stirrup and raising his left leg then lowers it against the resistance imposed by his left arm which is now being forced downward. At the end of the descent the downward pressure of the leg is allowed to decline, allowing the arm to lift the leg upward again and so on. In this mode all the muscles of the shoulders and back participate and an expansive force is exerted on the length of the shaft of the apparatus.

In Fig. 6 the right leg is being raised laterally, overcoming the resistance of the right arm which is seeking to reverse the movement. This exercises the muscles of the outer thighs, hips and waist etc In Fig. 7 the exerciser is using his left arm to laterally raise the right leg against its inclination and a degree of resistance. When the limit of the movement is reached the resistance of the leg is increased forcing the arm back again and so the movements are repeated with as little or as much exertion as desired. This exercises the inner thigh and chest muscles. In all of these exercises the exerciser can if necessary use his free arm to hold on to the back of a chair in order to keep balance.

Fig. 8 illustrates the exerciser sitting in a chair performing a rowing type movement. Both hands are inserted through the handgrip 3, one foot is placed in the stirrup and the flexible elasticated nature of the footstep allows the apparatus to pivot from a secure base. By extending the arms forward as far as possible in an unresisted rowing movement stretching of the spine occurs. To resist the forward motion of rowing a downward pressure on the handles is exerted during movement which exercises the abdomen, arms and chest.

For the backward motion an upward pressure is exerted which will exercise the shoulders and back.

Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 illustrate two examples of exercise involving both arms and the apparatus may be used in both expansive and compressive mode.

Fig. 11 shows the apparatus in use with a double handgrip whilst the exerciser is lying on his back. Both arms are being used to resist the downward movement of one leg which is giving exercise to the shoulders and back.

Referring to Figs. 14 to 17 of the drawings, there is provided a telescopic lever comprised of two tubes 100 and 102. The base of the tube 102 is fitted with a tubular cross member 101 which serves as a pivot and axle for the bearings of foot support members 104 and 105. The upper end of tube 100 carries an open ended tubular cross member 106 through which is inserted a handlebar 107. At one end of each of the tubes 101 and 102, there is fitted a flanged circular rim 108 and 109. The tubes 101 and 102, are inserted through and joined to each other buy a suitable length of spiral or flanged and grooved flexible plastic or rubber hose 110, the open ends of which are forced over and securely grip on the rims 108 and 109.Although a flexible plastic or rubber hose is preferred as a means of resistance to the expansion of compression of the lever length it would be possible to use a metal spring instead. A loose tubular casing 111 serves a cosmetic purpose and the upper end of it is useful as a pointer in conjunction with calibration marks on the flexible hose 110 to indicate the degree of effort used by an exerciser in depressing or uplifting the handlebar 107.

In order to use the apparatus of Figs. 14 to 17 the exerciser will sit on a chair, hands grasping the handlebar and with the feet on the foot supports as shown in Fig. 16. The handlebar is held depressed whilst the lever is pushed forward to the position shown in Fig. 17. This exercises the abdomen, chest and arms. The handlebar is uplifted and then the lever is pulled back again towards the position shown in Fig. 16 but with the handlebar uplifted. This exercises the back and shoulders. The handlebar is then depressed again and the process continued in the mode of rowing. The handlebar may be of a full adult shoulder width and be comprised of a strong plastic flexible tube in order to enhance the visible degree of effort used and to extend the range of movement towards or from the base of the lever.

The depressing and uplifting of handlebar can be executed in any described sequence.

Claims (11)

1. Exercise apparatus comprising a shaft, one end of said shaft being fitted with a handle and the other end with foot engagement means against which the foot can push thereby providing a link between an upper and a lower limb or in alternative use between both upper limbs which allows a user to exert an expansive or compressive force along the length of said shaft whilst using one limb to offer a degree of resistance to the movement of the other.

2. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the footrest part of said stirrup may be composed of a flat strip of flexible material, the underside of which also functions as a partially encompassing pressure pad for use against the side or instep of the person's foot.

3. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said handle comprises an angled portion of said shaft, said angled portion being covered by a non-slip material.

4. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said handle comprises a stirrup shaped handgrip.

5. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein either or both of said handle and said stirrup may be provided with bearings so that they are rotatable about said shaft.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim further including spring means such that said handle is movable axially of said shaft on exertion of force.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein there is provided calibration means for the measurement of the force exerted when the handle is moved axially of said shaft.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a telescopic member and said engageable means is pushable and is retained by the feet to the floor.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein the handle means comprises a handlebar which a user may depress towards the base of the member against a means of resistance during one direction of a reciprocating rowing motion and upwardly from the base of the lever against a means of resistance during the reverse direction.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the engageable means comprises pivotable foot supports provided with split bearings which can be tightened by screw around the axis of pivoting of the foot supports.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.