GB2584924A

GB2584924A - Exercise device for use while seated

Info

Publication number: GB2584924A
Application number: GB1916717.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Green Alan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-06-17
Filing date: 2019-11-15
Publication date: 2020-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-15
Also published as: GB2585959B; GB201916718D0; GB2584924B; GB2585959A; GB201916717D0

Abstract

A muscle toning device, for use with a chair, has: an exercise resistance device storing an elastically extendable, elongate resistance element 5 that has a user handgrip 12 attached at an end; a device mounter 2, configured to be attached to a seat portion of the chair, and located below a top surface of the seat portion; characterised in that the muscle toning device has a guide of a roller bearing 8, 16 and guidance channel 17, for locating and guiding the resistance element 5. The resistance element 5 may be held laterally across the underside of the seat portion. The device mounter 2 may be hook and loop and planar, with a seat engagement surface of less than 150 by 70 mm. There may be a second roller bearing or pulley 8, which may be laterally translatable to move in a direction of a pulling force.

Description

Exercise device for use while seated The present in. \Tendon relates to an exercise device for use when seated. In particular, the invention relates to a multifunctional resistance exercise device for both arms and legs for use with a scat or chair.

Background of the invention

Automation and computerisation are leading to increasingly sedentary lifestyles for many people. Ordinary daily tasks no longer provide sufficient opportunity for physical exercise. Some people address this by spending their leisure time in a gym, or taking part in sports or other outdoor activities. Other people don't address the problem at all, either because they lack the leisure time or the resources to participate in exercise, or because they lack the motivation. This can have tragic personal consequences.

People with existing health issues, such as those recovering from injury or those in hospitals or nursing homes, are often advised to perform light physical exercises in order, for example, to strengthen deteriorated muscles. Plenty of equipment exists to facilitate this exercise, but it is often bulky and expensive, and requires the patient to move from his or her room to another room, which is not always easy.

Exercise devices for use with ordinary chairs already exist, varying considerably in complexity, versatility and cost. These provide a convenient solution to office workers who wish to exercise while they work, and many other users. Such devices are either limited in their usefulness or only work with specially built chairs, making them expensive. A more convenient and universal solution is needed.

Acknowledged prior art

The inventor is aware of various prior art devices facilitating resistance exercises for 25 people seated in chairs. The three which he believes to be closest to his invention are detailed below.

CA2436231 shows an attachment for a chair, which is fixable to the pillar on the underside of a desk chair. The attachment means is a clamp, although other means such as strap and buckles are contemplated. Handles are attached to elastic cords, which are stored in tubular devices. The handles park against these same tubular devices. The tubular devices can be moved round. This device is only fixable to a desk chair, and does not provide any solutions for attachment to chairs without a central pillar. Furthermore, the cord pay-out mechanism does not maximise the potential use of the cord according to its length.

US5362296 shows an under-seat chair attachment comprising a guide with a pulley for elastic cord. The guides are movable, and the movement of one causes the movement of the other. The connection to the base of the scat is complex and intrusive, and it is not easily removable.

US9211432B1 discloses a chair-mounted exercise device with a laterally movable pulley allowing for increased extension of the exercise cord. It is attachable to an 5 underside of a chair in some embodiments. The differences between this disclosure and the present invention will be made clear below.

Problems with the prior art overcome by the present invention The present invention may be multi-fit, that is, it may be compatible with many different chair designs, or it may be retro-fit. This is at least because, surprisingly, it requires only a small touch fastener interaction with a limited planar area of a scat, either on the underside of the seat or elsewhere. The attaching surface of the device is similarly planar, attaching by adhesion or friction in the case of a touch fastener such as a hook and loop fastener.

While it is true that a bracket may be screwed or fitted to a seat underside that in turn attaches a mounting plate for a prior art moving pulley mechanism (see US9211432B1 listed above), this would still lack many of the advantages of the present invention. For example, the present invention enables the exercising of the lower legs (with the addition of the looping strap between the handgrips, as will become apparent). The range of arm exercises is increased due to the under-seat position. The under-seat position improves the arrangement aesthetically, reduces or removes interference with the upper scat structure and removes the possibility of tripping over an extended element. Furthermore, the prior art cord store is housed within a tube and would therefore be difficult to replace when it reaches the end of its useful life.

In order for these advantages to be realised, the pulleys must be under the seat, and must be rotated so that their axes are perpendicular, and must use the whole width of the region underneath in order to maximise the possible length and extension of the exercise cord. An additional guidance means (the 'bridge' or 'guidance channel' of the present invention) is necessary to prevent the exercise cord from jumping off or becoming dislodged from the rollers or pulleys. This guidance means can comprise, as well as the channel or bridge, bespoke deep grooves around the pulley or roller, and a cover plate, as will become apparent. Another roller or pulley is also required to maximise the cord's extension, handling the necessary change in direction of the cord from laterally under the chair to substantially upwards or diagonally upwards beyond the underside of the chair when in use.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the present invention has several inventive advantages over the prior art, and particularly over LS9211432B1.

Tt should also be noted that elastic materials have a limited life-span and need occasional replacement. The present invention ensures that the elastic cord or resistance dement is easily removable and replaceable.

It is commercially important to provide for both upper and lower limb resistance exercise. The present invention provides a simpler solution to both requirements than the prior art, by means of the strap between the handgrips forming an optional loop for leg exercise, and the vertical spacing arrangement avoiding the accidental dislodging of the device during use due to the application of a force with too great a vertical component. This will all become apparent below.

As mentioned above, the design of the present invention avoids the danger of collision with parts of a device protruding from underneath a chair. The whole of the device fits beneath the seat. If the handgrips and the ends of the exercise material do protrude, they arc not rigid and do not therefore cause a tripping or collision hazard.

The present invention is much simpler and uses fewer parts and less material than prior art devices.

The present invention does not require tools to be fitted. It fits using a simple touch fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener.

There is nothing in the prior art developing the handgrips with an additional 20 function. By providing a strap attachable between the two handgrips, optionally forming a loop for, for example, leg exercises, the versatility of the device is increased significantly.

Statement of invention

A first aspect of the invention provides a muscle toning device, for use with a chair having a seat portion with a top surface on which a user can sit, comprising: an exercise resistance device storing an elastically extendable, elongate resistance element; a user handgrip means, the elongate resistance element being attached at its second distal end to the user handgrip means; a device attachment means, configured to be attached to the seat portion of a chair, so that it is located, when attached, substantially below the top surface of the seat portion; characterised in that the muscle toning device further comprises at least one guide comprising a first roller bearing and guidance channel, for locating and guiding the elongate resistance element.

The elongate resistance element may be held laterally across the exercise resistance device such that, in use, it is held laterally across the underside of the top surface of the seat portion.

The muscle toning device may further comprise at least one second roller bearing, about which the elongate resistance element turns. The second roller bearing may be a laterally translatable pulley with a vertical axis of rotation, the laterally translatable pulley being anchored to the exercise resistance device by an elastically expandable attachment means, such that when a pulling force is applied to the elongate resistance element, the laterally translatable pulley is caused to move in the direction of said pulling force.

The device attachment means may comprise a mounting attachment means comprising a touch fastener for locating and attaching the muscle toning device 10 under the top surface of the scat portion. The touch fastener may be planar.

The seat attachment means may comprise a spacer configured so that, in use, the exercise resistance device is spaced vertically downwards from the top surface of the scat.

The muscle toning device may further comprise rigid elongate members extending 15 laterally from the exercise resistance device, the rigid elongate members comprising guiding or locating means for the elongate resistance material and the handgrip means. The rigid elongate members are movable with respect to the seat.

The seat engagement means may have a seat engagement surface which is no more than 150 x 70 mm.

'the user handgrip means may comprise means to attach an extendable and storable piece of elongate material. It may also comprise a core means about which a piece of elongate material can be wound. It may also comprise an inclined plane upon which is located a touch fastener, and a rigid overlying bar positioned so that, in use, a piece of elongate material attached to the touch fastener passes between the inclined plane and the rigid overlying bar.

Another aspect of the invention provides an assembly comprising a muscle toning device of the first aspect, and an extendable and storable piece of elongate material.

Another aspect of the invention provides a chair configured to receive a muscle toning device according to the first or second aspects.

Another aspect of the invention provides a muscle toning device according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a seat.

Brief description of drawings

The invention will be described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings. The drawings are not to scale, and each drawing omits selected features for the sake of clarity.

Figure 1 depicts a mounting device according to the invention.

Figure 2 depicts a cross section of a mounting device with arms according to the invention.

Figure 3 depicts a mounting device with arms, pulleys, exercise material and 5 handgrips according to the invention.

Figure 4 depicts a cross section of a mounting device with arms, pulleys and a cover plate, according to the invention.

Figure 5 depicts a bottom view of an arm with an arm pulley, spring, handgrip, and exercise material, according to the invention.

Figure 6 depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment for an arm comprising a rotatable, slidable, perpendicular extender, according to the invention.

Figure 7 depicts a handgrip according to the invention.

Figure 8 depicts a handgrip with an attached strap according to the invention. Figure 9 depicts a handgrip with a stowed strap according to the invention.

Figure 10 depicts an alternative embodiment of a handgrip with a stowed strap according to the invention.

Figure 11 depicts an adjustable mounting plate according to the invention.

Figure 12 depicts a chair to which an exercise device according to the invention is mounted.

Detailed description of drawings

Figure 1 depicts a mounting device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. It is depicted in an 'in-use' orientation, that is, the orientation it will have when attached to a chair in a normal usable position. Throughout this specification, terms which assume an orientation (such as up', 'down', 'top', 'bottom', etc.) should be taken to assume this same in-use orientation, even though -for illustrative purposes -some features are depicted upside down in later figures.

The mounting device 1 has a top surface, a bottom surface and two side surfaces. In this embodiment, the top surface is split into two parts, having a central gap. This may be useful, for example, when mounting the mounting device on a pedestal chair with a back connector on the underside which might otherwise interfere with mounting.

The top surface is at least partly covered with a touch fastener 2, in this case a hook and loop fastener. In use, this cooperates with a corresponding touch fastener on the underside of the scat of a chair. The inventor has found that most types of chair have at least a small area on the underside of their scats which are substantially flat. This is the preferred place for the corresponding touch fastener to be fixed, by any conventional method. The footprint' of the mounting device is preferably no greater than a piece of 115 paper folded into thirds. That is, the footprint is preferably no greater than about 150 mm by 70 mm. Surprisingly, the inventor has found this to be a large enough interface to secure an exercise device of this kind to most kinds of chair.

The side surfaces have slots 3 through which arms (not shown), are inserted. They also have anchoring means 4 to which exercise material 5 is anchored. The exercise material 5 will be described in more detail below, but generally consists of an elongate piece of resilient, extendable material, such as an elastic cord, against which a user pulls during exercise. Such material has a finite working life, and will need replacing from time to time. By anchoring the exercise material 5 by wrapping around and through a series of slots and holes 4, it is held securely in use, but easy to remove and replace when needed.

The bottom surface optionally has variable position arm securing means 6, depicted as regularly spaced holes in Figure 1.

Using a hook and loop fastener, or other touch fastener, makes the device very easy to retrofit, especially given the common flat area beneath most seats observed by the 20 inventor, and very easy to attach and detach.

Figure 2 depicts a cross section of an upside down mounting device 1 to which arms 7 are mounted according to a first method. The arms 7 are slidably held within a housing 10 fixed or integral to the mounting device 1, and connected by a device 11 which causes a second arm 7 to slide in or out when a first arm 7 is caused manually to slide in and out. This can be effected by any conventional means as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, such as a device similar to a curtain draw cord mechanism.

Figure 3 depicts the underside of the bottom surface of the mounting device 1, with arms 7 attached. First and second pulleys 8 are disposed on the underside of the bottom surface of the mounting device 1. The pulleys 8 are displaceable in the plane of the bottom surface of the mounting device 1, being anchored to respective arms 7 by resilient means, in this case by first and second springs 9.

First and second lengths of exercise material 5, anchored to respective side surfaces as depicted in Figure 1, run from their anchor points, across the underside of the bottom surface of the mounting device 1, around respective pulleys 8, back across the underside of the bottom surface of the mounting device 1, along respective arms 7, and attach to respective first and second handgrips 12. The exercise material 5 is preferably elongate elastic tubing.

The handgrips and the attachment of the exercise material 5 is not shown in detail in this figure for the sake of clarity. Both will be depicted more clearly in later figures, including the fixed pulleys 16 and the bridge means 17.

In use, a user seated on a chair to which the mounting device 1 is mounted, will lean 5 down to the side, grasp each handgrip 12 and pull. This will cause both the exercise material 5 and the springs 9 to extend, so that the exercise material extends from underneath the scat due both to the fact that its length is expanding and its feeding pulley is moving in the direction of extension, thus also moving the store of exercise material to the edge of the underside of the seat. The inventor has found that this 10 method of feeding out the exercise material is more effective than having a static store beneath a seat and relying solely on the stretchiness of the material.

First and second blocking members 13 prevent an overenthusiastic user pulling the pulleys 8 beyond the perimeter of the underside of the bottom surface of the mounting device 1.

Figure 4 depicts a sideways cross section of a mounting device 1 of the invention, again upside down. Arms 7 arc inserted, and mounted according to a second method. This method makes use of the mounting holes 6 depicted in Figure 1. As is clear in Figure 1, multiple mounting holes 6 are provided, and consequently different arm 7 extensions can be selected. First and second screws or bolts 14 are each inserted through a fixing hole in a respective arm 7, and then through a selected one of the mounting holes 6 in the bottom surface of the mounting device 1, and secured in place by conventional means.

A safety and cover plate 15 is secured over the pulleys 8, beneath the bottom surface of the mounting device 1, in order to help prevent their vertical displacement.

Figure 5 depicts a bottom view the distal end of an arm 7 in more detail. A distal end of a spring 9 is attached close to the distal end of the arm 7 (the proximate end of the spring 9, the reader will recall, is attached to one of the pulleys 8). An arm pulley 16 is fixed to the distal end of the arm 7. This pulley rotates about an axis which is parallel to the plane of the bottom surface of the mounting device 1 (and thus is perpendicular to the pulleys 8). Said axis is perpendicular to the length of the arm 7. The exercise material 5 runs beneath arm pulley 16, and is held in place by a bridge 17, fixed to the distal end of the arm 7, and passing under the exercise material 5 between the arm pulley 16 and the handgrip 12. The bridge 17 forms a closed-loop passage or guidance channel through which the exercise material 5 passes. 'This prevents the exercise material 5 from simply falling off the arm pulley 16 due to gravity (the reader will recall that the arm is depicted upside down). The inventor has found that this additional pulley 16 configuration provides a smoother extension of the exercise material, and also allows for a greater extension, because it avoids the exercise material 5 being pulled around a sharp edge. The inventor has also found that the bridge 17 also directs or guides the exercise material 5 when it is subject to a downward pull, for example when exercising the lower limbs. Tt also acts as a static bearing over which the exercise material 5 slides, since in this case the exercise material 5 does not turn around the arm pulley 16 but turns around the bridge 17. This provides additional friction, which is advantageous because exercises of the lower limbs generally require more resistance and less extension.

Figure 6 depicts an alternative embodiment for the end of the arm 7. Tn this embodiment, an arm extender 17 is slidably and rotatably inserted into the distal end of the arm 17. The arm extender 17 has a substantially 90-degree bend along its length, such that it extends the arm 7 not only outwards but also in a selected direction perpendicular to the length of the arm 7.

Although it is depicted pointing downwards, it is envisioned that in use it would generally point substantially upwards. This may be useful when the underside of the 15 scat of a chair, to which the device is attached, is much lower than the top surface of the seat of the chair.

The arm pulley 16 is attached to the perpendicular section of the arm extender 17, and the exercise material 5 runs underneath it (that is, between the pulley and the arm extender). An optional support means or receiving means 18 may be provided for the handgrip 12 at the distal end of the arm extender 17.

Figure 7 depicts a handgrip 12 in more detail.

The handgrip 12 is substantially planar having length and width, and comprises a series of slots or holes. The user may grasp it around its length-wise edges 19, or may place his or her fingers through a finger receiving hole 20.

In the depicted embodiment, it also comprises an inclined raised portion 21. This feature is an optional, ergonomically improving feature. As will be seen, it allows for easier access to the end of an attached strap in use, for removing the strap. This effect could be achieved in other ways, such as by providing a hole beneath the end of the strap for access through the handgrip to remove it.

Proximate the low end of the inclined raised portion 19 is a strap-guiding slot 22, proximate and in cooperation with strap-guiding member 33.

Proximate the high end of the inclined raised portion 19 is a strap-retaining slot 23.

Extending from the end of the handgrip 12 opposite the finger receiving slot 21 is an exercise material anchoring region comprising a receiving hole 24, a frictional 35 engagement channel 25 and a protrusion 26 with hole 27.

The face of the inclined raised portion 19 has a first area 28 covered in a touch fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener, and a second area 29, proximate the strap ouidinc, slot 22, without a touch fastener.

Recesses 45 in the side edges may be provided to form a core about which a strap 5 can be wound when not in use.

Figure 8 depicts a handgrip 12 with a strap 5 attached. The strap 5 can be made of elastic material, but this is not essential. The strap has a touch fastener 31 at the proximal end corresponding to the touch fastener 28 on the handgrip 12. It also has a touch fastener at the distal end, for attachment to the other handgrip 12. Thus, the two handgrips can be connected by the strap 30, for example to optionally form a closed loop over a user's lap, to be slid down over the user's legs and used to exercise the legs.

In use, the strap 30 passes from the underside of the handgrip 12, through the strap-guiding slot 22, so that the touch fastener 31 of the strap 30 meets the touch fastener 28 of the handgrip 12. The end of the strap should ideally overhang the edge of the high end of the inclined raised portion 19, for ease of removal when it is not required. Because the strap passes through the strap-guiding slot 22 it is prevented from accidental removal from touch fastener 28 by the strap-guiding member 33. Since touch fasteners generally hold firm against shear forces but not perpendicular forces, the strap-guiding member 33 prevents the strap in the region of the touch fastener 28 accidentally being pulled to an angle with too great a component perpendicular to the plane of the touch fastener 28, in which circumstance it would be vulnerable to accidental removal.

Figure 9 depicts the handgrip 12 with the strap 30 not in use. Remaining attached by the touch fastening, the strap is pulled through the strap-guiding slot 22, folded at its proximal end so that it runs perpendicularly to its in-use direction, and wrapped around the side edges 19, for example using recesses 45. The distal end is tucked into the strap-receiving slot 23.

Figure 9 also depicts a method of attaching the exercise material 5 to the handgrip 12. It is received in receiving hole 24, then passes through frictional engagement channel 25 and then through hole 27 in protrusion 26. In a preferred embodiment, the frictional engagement channel 25 is about 4 mm wide. I f an exercise material 5 is selected that is too thick to fit through the frictional engagement channel 25, it can nevertheless be anchored by being wrapped around proximate the frictional engagement channel 25 and using the other anchoring elements. It might also optionally be wrapped around protrusion 26. This provides a secure fitting which is nevertheless easily removed when the exercise material 5 needs to be replaced.

An alternative embodiment for stowing the strap 30 when not in use is depicted in Figure 10. In this embodiment, the strap 30 is attached to a rotary store 32, which is held within the frame of the handgrip 12, rotatable in a first direction to pay out the strap 30 and rotatable in the opposite direction to retract the strap 30. A bridge 33 is provided to prevent the proximal end of the strap 30 being pulled off when it is completely payed out in much the same way as the equivalent feature 33 in Figure 8.

Tn this second embodiment, the other handgrip could be similar to those of the first embodiment, receiving the strap in the way described above. It could alternatively be the same as the first handgrip 12 of this second embodiment, without a strap 30 in the rotary store 32, but merely a touch fastener for receiving the distal end of the strap 30 held in the first rotary store 32.

In both embodiments the strap 5 is removably securable at both ends, for ease of replacement when a strap 5 reaches the end of its useful life.

The mounting device 1 is designed to fit beneath the top surface of the seat of most chairs, because most chairs have a small flat area beneath the top surface of the scat to which a touch fastener can be attached, to which, in turn, the mounting device 1 can be attached. The inventor has found that on most chairs this small flat area is at least the size of an A5 sheet of paper, folded into thirds (approximately 148 x 70 mm). I or chairs with fabric undersides, not suitable for supporting a touch fastening for the mounting device 1, the inventor has devised a bracket suitable for substantially all such chairs, to increase the versatility of the invention further. 'Ibis is depicted in figure 11.

The bracket 34 comprises an elongate member composed of two slidably engaged parts 35, 36. The slidably engaged parts 35, 36 make the bracket extendable. In use, the bracket fits laterally across the entire width of the underside of a chair, and so it is important that its length is changeable to correspond to the different widths of different chairs. The sliding mechanism in the depicted embodiment is a pin 37 and groove 38 mechanism, but many other options will be apparent to the skilled reader.

The length of the bracket, once selected, is fixed by means of a variable position fitting. In the depicted embodiment this consists of a series of holes 39 in the first section 35 of the bracket; a substantially right-angled bracket 40 fixable to a selected one of said holes 39 by, for example, a screw or a bolt; and a corresponding right-angled bracket 41 fixed or integral to the end of the second part 36 of the bracket 34. The opposing faces perpendicular to the bracket 34 of the right-angled brackets 40, 41 are fixed together by a screw or bolt through corresponding holes.

At each end of the bracket 34 is a chair-grasping bracket 42. These are rotatable about a vertical axis in order to fit chairs of different shapes. In the depicted embodiment, the chair-grasping brackets are substantially right-angled brackets with the perpendicular elements pointing upwards (with reference to the in-use orientation). The rotation is provided by a nut and bolt through matched holes, although other options are well known. The underside of the chair is held tightly between these two chair-grasping brackets 42 and so the bracket assembly 34 provides a stable, flat surface on the underside of any chair, particularly any chair having a fabric underside, for the attachment of a touch fastener to use with the mounting device 1 of the invention.

Figure 12 depicts a chair 43 from either a front or rear view, with an exercise device according to the invention mounted beneath the seat 44. In use, a user will sit on the seat 44, grasp one or both handgrips 12, and pull on them against the resistance of the resilient exercise material 5 and springs 9. Alternatively, the user may form a closed loop of the exercise material 5 and the strap 30, connecting the two handgrips 12 together using the strap, and use this for resistance exercises of, for example, the legs, as well as to extend the range of possible upper body exercises. The chair may be configured to receive the mounting means 1 by having a touch fastener fixed on the underside of its seat 44.

The inventor has found that a hook and loop touch fastener is secure enough for the purposes of this invention when acted upon by a shear force directed no more 20 than 30-degrees from the plane of the hook and loop fastener.

This is why the mounting device 1 provides a vertical spacer between the underside of the seat 44 (the plane of the hook and loop touch fastener) and the plane of the exercise material. If the device is being used to exercise the lower legs, by strapping the handgrips 12 together, the force on the hook and loop touch fastening interface between the underside of the seat 44 and the mounting device 1 will still not be greater than 30-degrees downwards from the plane of the fastening, and so the device will remain secure.

This is also why the strap 5 passes through the strap guiding slot 22 before being secured to the touch fastener 28. The strap guiding member 33 next to the strap guiding slot 22 prevents the force on the strap 5 in the vicinity of the touch fastener 28 exceeding 30 degrees from the plane of the touch fastener. The bridge 33 serves the same purpose in the second handgrip embodiment.

Although the invention has been described in some detail by means of these embodiments, the foregoing is by no means limiting. The scope of the invention is 35 determined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.A muscle toning device, for use with a chair having a scat portion with a top surface on which a user can sit, comprising: an exercise resistance device storing an elastically extendable, elongate resistance element; a user handgrip means, the elongate resistance clement being attached at its second distal end to the user handgrip means; a device attachment means, configured to be attached to the scat portion of a chair, so that it is located, when attached, substantially below the top surface of the seat portion; characterised in that the muscle toning device further comprises at least one guide comprising a first roller bearing and guidance channel, for locating and guiding the elongate resistance element.
A muscle toning device according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate resistance element is held laterally across the exercise resistance device such that, in use, it is held laterally across the underside of the top surface of the seat portion.
A muscle toning device according to any preceding claim further comprising at least one second roller bearing, about which the elongate resistance element turns.
A muscle toning device according to claim 3 wherein the second roller bearing is a laterally translatable pulley with a vertical axis of rotation, the laterally translatable pulley being anchored to the exercise resistance device by an elastically expandable attachment means, such that when a pulling force is applied to the elongate resistance element, the laterally translatable pulley is caused to move in the direction of said pulling force.
A muscle toning device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device attachment means comprises a mounting attachment means comprising a touch fastener for locating and attaching the muscle toning device under the top surface of the seat portion.
A muscle toning device according to claim 5 wherein the touch fastener is planar.
A muscle toning device according to any preceding claim wherein the scat attachment means comprises a spacer configured so that, in use, the exercise resistance device is spaced vertically downwards from the top surface of the seat.
A muscle toning device according to any preceding claim comprising rigid elongate members extending laterally from the exercise resistance device, the rigid elongate members comprising guiding or locating means for the elongate resistance material and the handgrip means.
A muscle toning device according to claim 8 wherein the rigid elongate members are movable with respect to the seat.
10. A muscle toning device according to any preceding claim wherein the seat engagement means has a seat engagement surface which is no more than 150 x 70 mm.
11. A muscle toning device according to any preceding claim wherein the user handgrip means comprises means to attach an extendable and storable piece of elongate material.
12. A muscle toning device according to claim 11 comprising a core means about which a piece of elongate material can be wound.
13. A muscle toning device according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the user handgrip means further comprises an inclined plane upon which is located a touch fastener, and a rigid overlying bar positioned so that, in use, a piece of elongate material attached to the touch fastener passes between the inclined plane and the rigid overlying bar.
14. An assembly comprising a muscle toning device according to any one of claims 11 to 13 and an extendable and storable piece of elongate material
15. A chair configured to receive a muscle toning device according to any preceding claim.
16. A chair comprising an under-seat attachment means configured to receive a muscle toning device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
17. A muscle toning device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a seat.