GB2262049A

GB2262049A - Exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2262049A
Application number: GB9125989A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Warwick Ward; Peter Stephen Bird
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-12-06
Filing date: 1991-12-06
Publication date: 1993-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-06
Also published as: GB2262049B; GB9125989D0

Abstract

Exercise apparatus comprises a base member (10) having an upwardly presented surface (15) for supporting a torso portion of a user; two leg rest members (25, 26) for supporting the legs of the user; means (18, 19) supporting said leg rest members relative to the base member and providing for movement of the leg rest members between first positions in which they lie substantially parallel to and alongside one another and second positions in which they extend generally in opposite directions away from one another; and means (29-36) for urging the leg rest members from their first to their second positions. The leg rest members may be supported solely by the base member. There may be restraining means for restraining the torso of a user against movement relative to the base member. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: EXERCISE APPARATUS Description of Invention This invention relates to apparatus for use by a person in carrying out exercises for the purpose of improving the capabilities of the user's body. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for use in exercising the legs and lower torso of the user.

In many sporting and other activities a high degree of agility and flexibility is required in respect of the legs and lower torso of the participant. For example, a participant in "martial arts" sports, or a ballet or other dancer may require to execute high kicks, yet needs to avoid over stressing the various muscles, tendons, ligaments and other bodily parts involved in their execution.

One way in which agility and flexibility can be improved is by stretching exercises involving the relevant parts of the body. It is the object of the present invention to provide apparatus for assisting in carrying out such exercises, particularly in respect of the legs and lower part of the torso of the user.

According to one aspect of the present invention, I provide exercise apparatus comprising a base member having an upwardly presented surface for supporting a torso portion of a user; two leg rest members for supporting the legs of the user; means supporting said leg rest members relative to the base member and providing for movement of the leg rest members between first positions in which they lie substantially parallel to and alongside one another and second positions in which they extend generally in opposite directions away from one another; and means for urging the leg rest members from their first to their second positions; wherein the leg rest members are supported solely by the base member.

Preferably the base member has a ground-engaging portion which provides for stable support of the apparatus on the ground.

According to another aspect of the invention, I provide exercise apparatus comprising a base member having an upwardly presented surface for supporting a torso portion of a user, two leg rest members for supporting the legs of the user; means connecting the leg rest members to the base member and providing for movement of the leg rest members between first positions in which they extend substantially parallel to and alongside one another and second positions in which they extend generally in opposite directions away from one another; means for urging the leg rest members from their first positions to their second positions; and restraining means for restraining the torso of the user against movement relative to the base member.

Preferably apparatus includes both aspects of the invention as above set forth.

The apparatus may comprise a back rest member connected to said base member and operable to support the user in a sitting position and, alternatively, to permit the user to use the apparatus with the torso in a substantially horizontal orientation. The backrest member may be detachable from the base member to permit the user to assume the latter position, and/or may be adjustably mounted on the base member and able to be secured in a selected one of a number of positions ranging from a generally upright position to a generally horizontal position in which latter position it affords a support for the upper portion of the torso of a user, preferably level with the support surface of the base member.

The restraining means may be constituted by the backrest member itself, or may comprise a restraint member which may be provided on the backrest member. The restraint member may be arranged to abut the shoulder of the user, e.g. when the backrest member is in its generally horizontal orientation, to prevent the body of the user from moving away from the leg rest members. Alternatively, however, it would be within the scope of the invention for restraining means such as a fastenable harness or "seat belt" to be provided to restrain the user relative to the base member and/or backrest member of the apparatus.

The means for urging the leg rest members from their first to their second positions may be hydraulically operable, including hydraulic jacking means connected to the leg rest members to cause such movement thereof, and hydraulic pumping means operable by the user and arranged to deliver hydraulic fluid to the jacking means.

There may be provided valve means adjustable by the user and operable to control release of fluid from the jacking means, to provide a variable resistance against which the user may force the leg rest members from their second positions towards their first positions.

These may be spring means for returning the leg rest members to their first positions.

The leg rest members may be carried by support members pivotally connected to the base member, the leg rest members preferably having surfaces which are upholstered to assist the comfort of the user. The leg rest members preferably are detachable from the supporting members, to enable the size of the apparatus to be reduced to a minimum for transportation and/or storage. Each leg rest member may be connectable to its support member in a selected one of a number of positions, to facilitate use of the apparatus by persons of different size.

Preferably there is provided a stabilising means, extending from the base member and engagable with the ground on which the base member is placed to prevent the apparatus from tipping while it is being used. The stabilising means preferably extends generally beneath the leg rest members when they are in their first positions.

There may be provided a handle or handles graspable by the user, to extend the range of exercises which can be performed using the apparatus. A handle or handles may be provided in a position generally beneath the leg rest members when they are in their first positions; conveniently such handle or handles may be provided on said stabilising means. The stabilising means may comprise two ground-engaging limbs which are joined by a handle in a member which is generally of U-shape as a whole. A handle or handles may be provided at one or both sides of the base member.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an elevation, partly sectioned and broken away, of apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view as Figure 2, showing the apparatus in a different operative position; Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the apparatus in different operative positions; Figures 6 to 10 are views showing different modes of use of the apparatus.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, exercise apparatus comprises a base member 10 which is a hollow structure generally of rectangular shape in elevation, and in plan view but having rounded corners. The overall construction of the base member is that of a casing 23 enclosing a load-supporting structure including structural members 11, 12 extending lengthwise of the base member, a transverse structural member 13 at one end of the base member, and, adjacent the other end of the base member, upper and lower transverse structural members 14a, 14b. The structural members 11 to 14 provide support for the components to be described hereafter, whilst the casing of the base member affords an upwardly presented support surface 15 which is upholstered to provide a comfortable support for part of the torso of the user in either the sitting or lying position to be described hereafter.

Upright elements extending between the upper and lower structural members 14a, 14behave lugs which support vertically disposed pins 16, 17, which pivotally support two elongate support members 18, 19 respectively. The members 18, 19 extend outwardly from the casing of the base member through slots as indicated at 20 in Figure 1, which extend around the rounded corners 21, 22 of the casing 23. Each of the support members 18, 19 is provided, adjacent its end remote from the base member, with a number of spaced apertures as indicated at 24 in Figure 2 for the support member 18. Leg rest members 25 (Figure 1) and 26 (Figure 2) have pins to engage in selected ones of the apertures 24 to provide a detachable pivoted connection of each of the leg rest members to its respective support member 18, 19.The leg rest members 25, 26 are mirror images of one another; the member 26 has a horizontally extending portion 27 and vertically extending portion 28. The leg rest members may be fibre-glass reinforced plastics mouldings covered with a suitable upholstery material attached thereto, for example, by suitable clips.

Secured to the transverse structural member 13 within the casing 23 of the base member there is provided an hydraulic jacking device which includes a pump 29 operable by reciprocation of a handle 30 which extends outwardly of the casing 23 through an aperture 31 at the rear thereof and then extends transversely of the base member to terminate in a hand grip 32. The jacking device further comprises a piston and cylinder jack 33 with an output element 34 which is connected, by respective pivoted links 35, 36, to the support members 18, 19.The arrangement is such that reciprocation of the handle 30 causes the jack to move the support members 18, 19, and the leg rest members carried thereby, from first positions as shown in Figure 2, in which they lie substantially parallel to and alongside one another, to second positions, which they are approaching in Figure 3, in which they extend in generally opposite directions away from one another.The range of pivotal movement of each support member may be 90C or slightly more or less than 90". An adjustable valve 37, operable by a handle 38 extending outwardly of the casing 23 at the side thereof, through the intermediary of a link 39, is provided in the connection between the pump 29 and jack 33, to control the movement of the leg rest members from the Figure 2 position to the Figure 3 position as the pump handle 30 is reciprocated and also to enable controlled release of fluid from the jack to permit the leg rest members to return to the position in which they are shown in Figure 2. Spring means, e.g. a spring connected to the output element 34 of the jack 33, may be provided to return the leg rest members to the Figure 2 position.

An extension 40 of the structural member 12 extends rearwardly out of the casing 23 of the base member and then upwardly to provide a support for a backrest member 41. The backrest member 41, which is provided with an upholstered surface 42, is pivotally connected to the member 40 at 43 to provide for adjustment from a vertical position in which it is illustrated in Figure 1 to a horizontal position in which the surface 42 is substantially level with the surface 15. An arrangement, e.g. of apertures 44 through a selected one of which a pin may be placed, or of a clamping device (not illustrated), provides for fixing of the backrest member at the vertical or horizontal orientation or at a selected inclination therebetween.

From the forward end of the base member 10 there extends a generally U-shaped member which comprises two parallel limbs 45 which constitute stabiliser members, engagable with the ground on which the base member rests to prevent the apparatus from tipping if the user should put too large a proportion of his body weight on the leg rest members 25, 26. The limbs 45 are joined by a portion 46, spaced from the ground to provide a handle which the user is able to grasp when the leg rest members are in their position shown in Figure 3.

Figures 4 and 5 show the apparatus in two possible configurations which it may assume in use. In Figure 4, the leg rest members 25, 26 are shown in the orientation in which they lie generally parallel to and alongside one another. The backrest member 41 is shown in the upright orientation, so that the user may adopt a sitting position with the majority of his weight supported by the base member 10. Figure 5 shows the leg rest members 25, 26 in positions corresponding to that illustrated in Figure 3, extending away from one another at an inclination to one another In Figure 5, the backrest member 41 is in the horizontal orientation and it will be noted that its surface 42 is substantially level with the surface 15 of the base member 10, for supporting the upper part of the torso of a user.Figure 5 also shows, secured to the backrest member 41, a restraint member 48 which is disposed so as to provide an abutment for the shoulder of a user of the apparatus, to prevent movement of the torso of the user in the direction away from the leg rest members of the apparatus.

Figures 6 to 10 of the drawings show possible modes of use of the apparatus. In Figure 6, a user 50 is depicted in the sitting position, having sat upon the apparatus when the apparatus is in its condition shown in Figure 4 and then operated the pump handle 30 to cause the leg rest members to be moved away from one another to stretch the user's legs sideways to an extended position.

Figure 7 shows the apparatus operated generally as in Figure 6 but with the user in a semi-reclining position. The restraint member 48 engages one shoulder of the user to hold the torso of the user substantially stationary relative to the base member and backrest member of the apparatus.

Figure 8 shows use of the apparatus with the user in the fully reclining position.

When the backrest member 41 is in the horizontal orientation, the user may use the apparatus lying in a face down position as shown in Figure 9, to open the legs sideways. Alternatively, the user may lie in a side-down position and the apparatus used to open the legs to front and rear.

Apparatus according to the invention thus is usable to exercise the body in several ways. The apparatus is arranged so as to provide a minimum of restriction to or interference with the user, whilst providing for effective restraint of the user so as to derive the maximum benefit from use of the apparatus. The apparatus is designed to minimise any danger of trapping or injuring any part of the user. Further advantages are that the apparatus is self contained, with the leg rest members and backrest members supported solely from the base member, and yet is arranged for easy removal of parts for storage and/or transport purposes.

As a further mode of use of the apparatus, the pump and jacking device may be arranged to be operable to urge the leg rest members towards one another to the Figure 2 position, and the leg rest members placed on their support members with their vertically extending portions remote from one another so that the user is able to exert the necessary muscles to force the legs apart.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus comprising a base member having an upwardly presented surface for supporting a torso portion of a user; two leg rest members for supporting the legs of the user; means supporting said leg rest members relative to the base member and providing for movement of the leg rest members between first positions in which they lie substantially parallel to and alongside one another and second positions in which they extend generally in opposite directions away from one another; and means for urging the leg rest members from their first to their second positions; wherein the leg rest members are supported solely by the base member.

2. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the base member has a ground-engaging portion which provides for stable support of the apparatus on the ground.

3. Exercise apparatus comprising a base member having an upwardly presented surface for supporting a torso portion of a user, two leg rest members for supporting the legs of the user; means connecting the leg rest members to the base member and providing for movement of the leg rest members between first positions in which they extend substantially parallel to and alongside one another and second positions in which they extend generally in opposite directions away from one another; means for urging the leg rest members from their first positions to their second positions; and restraining means for restraining the torso of the user against movement relative to the base member.

4. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising restraining means for restraining the torso of the user against movement relative to the base member.

5. Exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a back rest member connected to said base member and operable to support the user in a sitting position and, alternatively, to permit the user to use the apparatus with the torso in a substantially horizontal orientation.

6. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the backrest member is detachable from the base member to permit the user to assume the latter position.

7. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the backrest member is adjustably mounted on the base member.

8. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the backrest member is able to be secured in a selected one of a number of positions ranging from a generally upright position to a generally horizontal position.

9. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein, when the backrest member is in said generally horizontal position, it affords a support level with the support surface of the base member.

10. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 3, Claim 4 or any claim appendant thereto wherein the restraining means is constituted by the backrest member.

11. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 3, Claim 4 or any one of Claims 5 to 9 appendant thereto, wherein the restraining means comprises a restraint member provided on the backrest members

12. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein the restraint member is arranged to abut the shoulder of the user.

13. Exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for urging the leg rest members from their first to their second positions includes hydraulic jacking means connected to the leg rest members to cause such movement thereof, and hydraulic pumping means operable by the user and arranged to deliver hydraulic fluid to the jacking means.

14. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein there is provided valve means adjustable by the user and operable to control release of fluid from the jacking means, to provide a variable resistance against which the user may force the leg rest members from their second positions towards their first positions.

15. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 further comprising spring means for returning the leg rest members to their first positions.

16. Exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the leg rest members are carried by support members pivotally connected to the base member.

17. Exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the leg rest members have surfaces which are upholstered.

18. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 16 or Claim 17 wherein the leg rest members are detachable from the supporting members.

19. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein each leg rest member is connectable to its support member in a selected one of a number of positions.

20. Exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising stabilising means, extending from the base member and engagable with the ground on which the base member is placed to prevent the apparatus from tipping while it is being used.

21. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 20 wherein the stabilising means extends generally beneath the leg rest members when they are in their first positions.

22. Exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a handle or handles graspable by the user.

23. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 22 comprising a handle or handles in a position generally beneath the leg rest members when they are in their first positions.

24. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 23 as appendant to Claim 21 wherein said handle or handles is or are provided on said stabilising means.

25. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 24 wherein the stabilising means comprises two ground-engaging limbs which are joined by a handle in a member which is generally of U-shape as a whole.

26. Exercise apparatus according to Claim 22 wherein a handle or handles is or are provided at one or both sides of the base member.

27. Exercise apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. Any novel feature or or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.