GB2459440A

GB2459440A - Resistance band exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2459440A
Application number: GB0807151A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Alex Fortey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-21
Filing date: 2008-04-21
Publication date: 2009-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-21
Also published as: GB2459440B; GB0807151D0

Abstract

Exercise apparatus 10 comprises a platform (12, figure 1) for a user to stand thereon, an elongate arcuate support element 16 which, in use, upstands froth the platform (12), an elongate attachment member 18 which is selectively attached or attachable to the arcuate support element 16 to extend laterally thereto, and at least one flexible elastic elongate resistance element 38 which is selectively attached or attachable to the attachment member 18. The resistance element 38 may be an elongate strip or narrow sheet of flexible electrometric material, rubber tubing or a bungee cord. The attachment member can be selectively attached to different positions along the extent of main body 20 of the support element, thus enabling a variety of exercises to be performed.

Description

RESISTANCE BAND EXERCISE APPARATUS

This invention relates to exercise apparatus which utilises at least one flexible elastic resistance element. Preferably, the resistance element is an elastomeric resistance band.

Recently, resistance bands have become popular in gyms and home workouts, since they are small, light-weight and the resistance can be easily varied by shortening or lengthening the in use length. A resistance band is typically an elongate strip or narrow sheet of flexible elastomeric material. However, elongate rubber tubing, typically looped at the ends to include grips, is also known to be referred to as a resistance band, and can be equally utilised in the invention described hereinafter.

It is also envisaged that a bungee cord can be utilised. As such, herein throughout, the phrase resistance element' is utilised and encompasses at least all these three devices.

However, in the above-described instances, the use to which a resistance band, tubing or bungee cord can be put in order to provide an all over body workout is limited without a partner or wall or floor anchor point.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a solution to this problem, thereby allowing the use of a resistance element to give an all over body workout.

According to the invention, there is provided exercise apparatus comprising a platform for a user to stand thereon, an elongate arcuate support element which, in use, upstands from the platform, an elongate attachment member which is selectively attached or attachable to the arcuate support element to extend laterally thereto, and at least one flexible elastic elongate resistance element which is selectively attached or attachable to the attachment member.

Preferable and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 19, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of exercise apparatus, in accordance with the present invention and with a resistance element omitted for clarity; and Figure 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of part of the exercise apparatus, when assembled and with the resistance element included.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown exercise apparatus 10 which comprises a platform 12 for a user to stand on, a support frame 14 on which the platform 12 resides, an elongate arcuate support element 16 which is detachably mountable in upstanding fashion to the support frame 14, and an elongate attachment member 18 which is selectively attachable to the arcuate support element 16 to extend laterally thereto.

The support frame 14 is a planar framework of interconnected struts, typically being elongate rectilinear tubular metal members welded together at their ends. The framework may have small protective pad-type feet on its in use lower surface, in order to protect a surface on which the apparatus 10 resides, hut this is not essential.

However, the support frame 14 preferably has no legs, thereby allowing a user to stand, crouch, sit or kneel on the platform 12.

The platform 12 is preferably in two parts which extend to the sides of the upstanding support element 16. However, the platform may be one-piece with a slot for receiving the support element 16.

The support element 16 includes an arcuate main body 20 and a foot portion 22 for attachment of the support element 16 to the platform 12. The foot portion 22 is preferably elongate and rectilinear, enabling connection to the support frame 14 midway along the lateral extent of the support frame 14 via five or fewer releasable fasteners 24, such as winged bolts and/or nuts. The foot portion 22 is preferably formed from sheet metal and stabilises the arcuate main body 20.

The arcuate main body 20 is preferably tubular metal and is typically between one metre and two metres in height, preferably being approximately one and three quarter metres.

ft describes a or substantially a C-shape, and is preferably semi-circular. The foot portion 22 is attached, typically by welding, at the in use lower end and extends generally at a tangent in the direction of curvature.

The arcuate main body 20 includes a plurality of openings 26 spaced along its longitudinal extent for receiving threaded fasteners 28, such as bolts.

The attachment member 18 comprises a curved elongate attachment body 30 and an attachment channel 32 dimensioned to receive the arcuate main body 20 of the support element 16 as a close fit. The attachment channel 32 includes three or fewer bolt apertures 34 which align with the openings 26 in the arcuate main body 20.

The curved attachment body 30 is again typically tubular metal and includes a plurality of eyes 36 spaced symmetrically about the attachment channel 32. The eyes 36 are preferably elongate to accept a resistance band 38, hut may be any suitable shape, or simply may be dimensioned to connect one or more karabiners.

A single resistance band 38, elastic tubing or bungee cord can be attached to one or more than one of the eyes 36 of the attachment member 18, or a plurality of resistance elements 38 can be attached to respective eyes 36, depending on necessity.

The plurality of openings 26 along the arcuate main body 20 of the support element 16 enables the attachment member 18 to be selectively placed at any position along the longitudinal extent of the semi-circular main body 20. As such, the attachment member 18 can be positioned low on the support element 16 to enable exercises such as standing rows, curls, lateral raises, shoulder press, deadlift, squats, and such like to be performed; can be positioned midway on the support element 16 to enable exercises such as standing bench press, standing flies, punching, reverse flies, and such like to be performed; or can be positioned high on the support element 16 to enable exercises such as pulldowns and resistance crunches to be performed.

The attachment member 18 can also be located at numerous positions between the above-described places to target different muscle groups.

To attach the resistance elements 38, a clamp or clip 40 can be used to prevent the resistance element 38 being pulled from the eye 36 or, as mentioned above, a karabiner.

Any other suitable attachment means for attachment of the resistance elements 38 can also be considered.

In the above described embodiment, the eyes are provided by separate bars fixed to the attachment body. However, the attachment body may simply include apertures or openings formed directly therein.

Although shown as curving inwards towards the concave side of the support element, the attachment member can be reversed to curve in the convex direction of the support element.

Although the platform is supported by the support frame, the platform can be provided all as one-piece. In this case, the support element is directly attached to the platform instead of being indirectly engaged via the support frame.

Clearly, the support element could, additionally or alternatively, by directly engaged with the platform itself.

By use of resistance elements, such as hands, tubing, and hungee cords, core muscles can he worked whilst also activating the much smaller stahiliser muscles which support the joints. These stahiliser muscles are generally not adequately worked and developed by use of the common and prevalent machines found in modern gyms. However, gym users are often intimidated when faced with free weights, largely due to safety issues and a lack of knowledge for effective use. Resistance elements are safer, provide varying resistance relative to extension. The present invention utilises the benefits of resistance elements without the need for a permanent fixing on a wall or floor and without the need for a partner to vary the fixed position of the band. Furthermore, the resistance can be easily varied mid-exercise to increase or decrease resistance simply by stepping away from or closer to the support element and attachment member. This can replicate a drop-set type of exercise with only a minor pause in work rate.

The exercise apparatus of the present invention is also highly compact, allowing quick dismantling for storage. The attachment member can be released from the support element by removing the three or fewer bolts with associated, preferably wing, nuts, and the support element can be released from the support frame by removing the five or fewer bolts with their associated, preferably wing, nuts. The exercise apparatus can thus be substantially flat packed.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Exercise apparatus comprising a platform for a user to stand thereon, an elongate arcuate support element which, in use, upstands from the platform, an elongate attachment member which is selectively attached or attachable to the arcuate support element to extend laterally thereto, and at least one flexible elastic elongate resistance element which is selectively attached or attachable to the attachment member.
2. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment member is releasably attachable to the arcuate support element to enable selective repositioning on the support element.
3. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment member is curved along its longitudinal extent.
4. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment member includes a plurality of openings in spaced relationship for attachment of the said resistance element.
5. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said opening is an elongate eye.
6. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support element includes an arcuate main body.
7. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the main arcuate body describes a or substantially a C-shape.
8. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the main arcuate body describes a semi-circle.
9. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the support element further includes a stahilising foot portion which extends from the arcuate main body.
10. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the foot portion is elongate and rectilinear.
11. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the platform is supported on a support frame.
12. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the platform is supported in two parts on the support frame.
13. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim ii or claim 12, wherein the support frame is planar or substantially planar without legs.
14. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the platform extends to both sides of the support frame.
15. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the support element is connected to the support frame by five or fewer releasable fastenings, and the attachment member is connected to the support element three or fewer releasable fastenings.
16. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is collapsible for storage.
17. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of the said resistance elements is provided.
18. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising attachment means for releasably attaching the or each resistance element to the attachment member.
19. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each resistance element is an elastomeric resistance band.
20. Exercise apparatus substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.