GB2261174A - An exercise apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprises a circular endless support rail (2) supported by a base member (4) such that said support rail extends substantially horizontally. A person with walking difficulties may then walk around the exercise apparatus guided by, and supported by, the support rail (2). The base member (4) is fixed and/or weighted to the ground to provide the appropriate stability. in an embodiment, the base member (4) comprises an open ended container (6) in which weighting material is inserted. The support rail may be tiltably adjustable and belt or frames means may also be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

AN EXERCISE APPARATUS The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus.

Persons with walking difficulties frequently benefit from exercise, and particularly from practising walking.

However, although there are aids to facilitate walking, such as crutches and frames, these simply assist mobility and often provide little actual walking exercise.

According to the present invention there is provided an exercise apparatus for providing support for people exercising, said exercise apparatus comprising an upstanding base member which is arranged to be fixed and/or weighted to the ground, and a support rail supported by said base member at or near the top thereof to extend in a plane spaced above the ground, wherein said support rail is endless, has a perimeter which projects outwardly with respect to the perimeter of the upstanding base member, and is rigidly fixed relative to said base member.

An exercise apparatus of an embodiment of the invention can be used by a person with walking difficulties to exercise. The person walks around the perimeter of the base member holding onto the support rail and the exercise apparatus provides support for the person exercising.

Furthermore, the apparatus may be utilised for further exercises, such as bending over, bending at the knees, and/or lifting legs individually. As the person generally holds onto the support rail by one arm only, the exercises also have effective side strengthening capabilities.

In one embodiment, said support rail is fixed to said base member to extend substantially horizontally above the ground.

Generally, a simply constructed apparatus having a generally horizontally extending support rail is sufficient. However, it is alternatively possible for the exercise apparatus to further comprise tiltable connection means connecting said support rail to said base member, said tiltable connection means enabling the angle of the plane in which the support rail extends to be adjusted relative to the horizontal, and means for locking said tiltable connection means whereby after said adjustment said support rail is fixed relative to said base member and extends in said angled plane.

With the embodiment of the apparatus having tiltable connection means, the support rail may be arranged to extend in a plane at an angle to the horizontal. This may provide an augmented exercising effect in some circumstances.

The endless support rail may be of any required shape, and, for example, may be rectangular. However, it is presently preferred that said endless support rail is substantially circular.

In one embodiment, said upstanding base member comprises an elongate member carrying at or near the base thereof fixing means for fixing the base member to the ground.

For example, said elongate member may be an elongate metal rod having fixing means in the form of an elongate spike integrally formed therewith. The metal spike may be hammered into the ground and/or embedded in concrete.

In an alternative embodiment, said upstanding base member has a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface and has a substantially planar base surface.

The base member may be a substantially solid member fabricated to have a weighted base surface. The weighted base member is, of course, able to provide stability to the exercise apparatus particularly if it is not fixed to the ground.

If a substantially solid base member is provided and/or if the base member is fixed to the ground, the exercise apparatus is generally immovable.

In a presently preferred embodiment, said upstanding base member comprises a substantially cylindrical container containing weighting material arranged to weight the planar base surface to the ground. This enables the exercise apparatus to be relocated if necessary. Generally, where it is required to enable the apparatus to be relocatable, the base member is not fixed to the ground. Of course, it is then necessary to ensure that the weighting material provides sufficient weight for stability.

In this embodiment, the weighting material may be placed in the container when the exercise apparatus is to be used and after it has been appropriately positioned. If it is wished to move the apparatus, the weighting material may be removed from the container to facilitate its movement. Once the container has been appropriately repositioned, weighting material may be refilled into the container.

The weighting material may be any suitable material having sufficient weight to provide stability to the apparatus. In some circumstances, the weighting material may be gravel, aggregate or other commonly available material.

Preferably, said container is open at its upper end, comprises a lid for closing its upper end, and further comprises fixing means for fixing the lid to the container in its position closing the upper end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said endless support rail forms the perimeter of a support framework, and wherein said support framework is fixed to said lid of the container.

In this respect, it is preferred that the support framework and the support rail are arranged such that over most of its length the support rail is spaced outwardly of the support framework so that access to most of the rail is available.

A preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus of the invention further comprises a belt or harness for a person exercising, and attachment means for attaching said belt or harness to said exercise apparatus, wherein said attachment means enable the belt or harness to be moved around said support rail.

The belt or harness may be worn by the person exercising, and may provide a further degree of safety and security for those persons who are particularly unsteady when walking.

In many instances it will be sufficient to provide a belt for circling the waist of the person exercising, but in some situations a full harness positioned on the upper torso of the person exercising may be preferred.

Although the belt or harness is attached to the exercise apparatus, it must not act to restrict the movement possible by the person exercising. The attachment means may comprise a staple or pivot means attached to said exercise apparatus, and a strap connecting the staple or pivot means to the belt or harness whereby the belt or harness may be moved around the point defined by the staple or pivot means.

It would alternatively be possible to provide attachment means having a connector movably engaged with said support rail and a strap connecting the connector to the belt or harness. For example, the support rail may be provided with a channel in which the connector engages, the channel being an endless channel and extending along the endless support rail.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an exercise apparatus of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows a plan view of an alternative embodiment of an exercise apparatus of the invention.

The drawings illustrate two embodiments of an exercise apparatus of the present invention specifically designed to be used in domestic locations. However, it will be appreciated that exercise apparatus of the invention may also be used at recreational facilities and/or at medical facilities.

The exercise apparatus comprises a substantially circular endless support rail 2 which is supported to extend substantially horizontally at a position above the ground. The support rail 2 is supported by a base member 4 which is sufficiently sturdy and robust such that the apparatus can support the weight of a person exercising.

In general, the support rail 2 is supported by the base member 4 at a height above the ground which is similar to the height of the waist of a person of average stature above the ground. Of course, the distance of the support rail 2 above the ground can be chosen as required to meet the exercise needs of the persons using the apparatus.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings have been specifically designed for simplicity of construction. Furthermore, whilst the apparatus is sufficiently sturdy to support the weight of a person exercising, the apparatus can be relocated if required. In this respect, the stability of the apparatus is achieved by the use of weighting material, which weighting material may be removed to facilitate movement of the apparatus.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the base member 4 is formed by a substantially cylindrical container 6 having a closed, substantially planar base surface indicated at 8. At its top the container 6 has an opening therein. The container 6, which may be made of a sturdy plastics material, is filled with weighting material (not shown) such that the apparatus is able to support the weight of a person.

The container 6 is also provided with a lid 10 arranged to be received on the container 6 and to close the open end thereof. For safety and stability, the lid 10 is fastened onto the container 6. In the embodiment illustrated, the lid is fixed in position by a plurality of bolts 12 angularly spaced around the perimeter of the lid 10. Each bolt 12 extends through the lid 10 into the container 6 to hold the two together.

In the embodiment illustrated, the support rail 2 forms the external periphery of a supporting framework 14.

In this respect, the framework 14 is formed by interconnecting, generally radially extending ribs 16.

Whilst any number of such ribs may be provided, in the embodiment illustrated only four ribs 16 are provided, and are defined by two interconnecting and diametrically extending bars arranged mutually at right angles. In the embodiment illustrated, each rib 16 is fixed to the lid 10 by way of one or more respective screws 18. As will be apparent from the drawings, the support rail 2 projects beyond the periphery of both the container 6 and its lid 10, and this projection enables access to the support rail 2 for persons exercising.

In use, a person exercising holds onto the support rail 2 and progresses therealong. This causes the person exercising to walk around the base assembly 4 supported by the apparatus.

The components of the apparatus, as described above, may be made of any suitable materials. However, in many cases it will be preferred that the container, its lid and the support framework incorporating the peripheral support rail 2 be made of a high rigidity plastics material.

It will be appreciated that a user may employ the exercise apparatus in any suitable manner. However, the apparatus can offer best assistance if the user grasps the support rail 2 with one hand for support and walks around the base member 4. Not only does this provide walking exercise, but it may also exercise the muscles on one side of the body. The user can then exercise the other side of the body by the simple expedient of turning around so that the support rail 2 can be gripped by the other hand.

For some persons, a degree of security will be required which is not provided by the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of the invention arranged to provide that extra security. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, a belt 20 is provided to be fastened around the waist of the user.

This belt is arranged to be fastened to the apparatus by way of a strap 22 which is preferably adjustable in length.

In the embodiment illustrated, both ends of the strap 22 are fastened to hooks 24. The support framework 14 of the exercise apparatus is provided with a fixed staple 26 onto which the hook 24 at one end of the strap 22 can be affixed. The hook 24 at the other end of the strap 22 is hooked onto the belt 20 by any appropriate means. In use, the belt 20 is fastened around the waist of the user who thereby is secured to the apparatus. The connection of the hook 24 to the staple 26 provides the necessary pivoting action for the strap 22. Of course, if preferred, the hook 24 may be affixed to a pivotable ball joint or other means fixed to the base member 4 or the support framework 14.

The embodiments of the invention described and illustrated, show a container with a lid to which the support framework 14 is fastened. Of course, it would be possible to omit the lid 10, although in this instance drainage holes may be necessary in the container 6 to enable the escape of rainwater. In this case, the support rail 2 may be connected by appropriate framework directly to the rim of the container 6 at its open end.

It will be appreciated that modifications in and variations to the embodiments of the invention as particularly described and illustrated may be made within the scopeof this application.

Claims (12)

1. An exercise apparatus for providing support for people exercising, said exercise apparatus comprising an upstanding base member which is arranged to be fixed and/or weighted to the ground, and a support rail supported by said base member at or near the top thereof to extend in a plane spaced above the ground, wherein said support rail is endless, has a perimeter which projects outwardly with respect to the perimeter of the upstanding base member, and is rigidly fixed relative to said base member.

2. An exercise apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said support rail is fixed to said base member to extend above the ground substantially horizontally.

3. An exercise apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising tiltable connection means connecting said support rail to said base member, said tiltable connection means enabling the angle of the plane in which the support rail extends to be adjusted relative to the horizontal, and means for locking said tiltable connection means whereby after said adjustment said support rail is fixed relative to said base member and extends in the angled plane.

4. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said endless support rail is substantially circular.

5. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said upstanding base member comprises an elongate member carrying at or near the base thereof fixing means for fixing the base member to the ground.

6. An exercise apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said elongate member is an elongate metal rod, and said fixing means comprises an elongate spike integrally formed with said metal rod.

7. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said upstanding base member has a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface and has a substantially planar base surface.

8. An exercise apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said upstanding base member comprises a substantially cylindrical container containing weighting material arranged to weight the planar base surface to the ground.

9. An exercise apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said container is open at its upper end, comprises a lid for closing its upper end, and further comprising fixing means for fixing the lid to the container in its position closing the upper end.

10. An exercise apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said endless support rail forms the perimeter of a support framework, and wherein said support framework is fixed to said lid of the container.

11. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a belt or harness for a person exercising, and attachment means for attaching said beltl or harness to said exercise apparatus, wherein said attachment means enable the belt or harness to be moved around said support rail.

12. An exercise apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.