US20210402248A1

US20210402248A1 - Portable, multi-function fitness device.

Info

Publication number: US20210402248A1
Application number: US17/359,275
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeff Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-06-26
Filing date: 2021-06-25
Publication date: 2021-12-30

Abstract

A fitness device comprising a foldable base that hinges to an upright body with laterally folding arms. Extension bars extend out from the base to provide additional stability. A seat moves up and down in a channel in the body. An assortment of resistance bands can be attached to the base, the seat, or to the arms when they are extended. The seat can be removed from the channel and hung over the top of a door such that the resistance bands hang from above a user's head to provide additional exercises. The base folds in on itself and can rotate against the body, such that the device is easily transported.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional No. 63/044,581, which was filed Jun. 26, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not federally sponsored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the general field of fitness devices, and more specifically, to more specifically to a portable fitness device that is easily transported, but at the same time, is multi-functional to provide a wide range of exercises.

Brief Summary of the Invention

The fitness device comprises four basis parts: a base, a vertical body, a seat, and two resistance bands. The multiple configurations made possible by the design of the invention allows a user to perform numerous exercises working different parts of the body with very quick and easy adjustments to the various parts of the device. The base, optionally, has several hingeably attached sections that can fold up easily for traveling. Two or more extension rods optionally extend out from the base to provide additional stability. The base is hingeably attached to the upright body, such that the base, when folded, folds neatly against the body for easy transportation. In the middle of the body is channel into which a seat is removably attached. The seat can be moved up or down in the channel. At the top of the body are two laterally-rotating arms. The body also has a padded region for the comfort of the user. Two resistance bands can be attached to the base, the seat, or the ends of the laterally-rotating arms, giving the user a variety of core, upper and lower body exercises. The seat provides a secure handhold such that the device can be used by older people for whom standing from a sitting or squatting position may be difficult. For additional exercises, the seat can be removed from the device and hooked over the top of a door, providing yet another set of exercises. It is important to note that there are three separate main anchor points for the resistance bands: the standing platform, the winged arms, and on the seat when attached to the door. These three anchor points provide different points of resistance that allow for a full and total body exercise. The invention is now, however, limited to these three anchor points, as numerous additional exercises are contemplated as part of the over concept of the invention.

PRIOR ART

Exercise equipment has been a mainstay of human life for many years; thus, there is much prior art in the field. There exist many devices which provide resistance band training, but many of these are extremely large and heavy, such that they are not portable. Others do not provide the range of exercises this invention does, leaving this invention as the first portable exercise device that allows for a total body workout and is easy and safe to use.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an easily transportable, multi-function exercise device.
It is a second objection of the invention to provide an exercise device with a folding base, hingeably connected to an upright body with laterally-folding arms.
It is a third objection of the invention to provide an exercise device with a seat that can serve as a safety handhold for older exercisers and exercisers with weak knees, as well as a platform that allows deconditioned people to implement squats in their workout with safety and support.
It is a fourth object of the invention to provide an exercise device with three separate places at which sets of resistance bands can be attached.
It is a fifth object of the invention to provide a seat that can be removed from an exercise device and attached to the top of a door to provide the user with additional exercise options.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
It should be understood the while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of one embodiment of the fitness device with laterally-extendable arms in a retracted position.

FIG. 2 is a front, perspective view of a second embodiment of the fitness device with laterally-extendable arms in an extended position.

FIG. 3 is front, perspective view of a third embodiment of the fitness device packed up ready for transportation.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the seat being hung over the top of a door to provide additional exercise options.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention in a folded position, ready for transportation.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention in a partially unfolded position as a user is preparing it for exercise.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the invention in a fully unfolded position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the invention with two resistance bands attached to the base clips.

FIG. 10 is a back perspective view of the invention with a single resistance band being used across the arms.

FIG. 11 is a close-up perspective view of the arm section of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of one embodiment of the fitness device with laterally-extendable arms 11 in a retracted position. The device is anchored by a base 2, which is connected at a base hinge 6 to a body 1. The base contains at least two base units 5, which conveniently fold onto themselves for easy transportation using knuckle hinges 16. The base also contains several base clips 16, to which resistance bands 4 can be attached. The body 1 is vertically oriented, and has a channel 9, into which a seat 3 fits. Two extension bars 14 extend from the base units 5 to enhance support. It is contemplated that the body, base and seat could be made from metal, plastic, composite, wood, or any other strong material.
Two laterally-extendable arms 11 rotate about arm hinges 12. Arm connectors 15 provide places where resistance bands 4 can be attached. The seat has a seat surface 7, where a user can sit (for some exercises) and grab for security in cases where the user is old or has weak knees, and is not certain that he/she will be able to maintain balance and/or recover from a squat position to a standing position. The seat 3 also has seat clips 8 which provide additional places where the resistance bands 4 can be attached. The body 1 has a padded section 10 that provides comfort to the user.
FIG. 2 is a front, perspective view of a second embodiment of the fitness device with laterally-extendable arms in an extended position. In this figure, the arms 11 have been rotated outward about arm hinges 12. Resistance bands 4 have been connected to arm connectors 15. It is contemplated that the device could come with a set of resistance bands with different amounts of resistance, such that a user of the invention could use different bands for different exercises, and could progress from weaker to stronger bands as his/her fitness level increased. The bands could be stored in a mesh or other type of bag.
FIG. 3 is front, perspective view of a third embodiment of the fitness device packed up ready for transportation, and a side perspective view of the seat 3 being hung over the top of a door 13 to provide additional exercise options. The base units have been folding in upon themselves such that the base 2 is much smaller in footprint than it was when the base units were open. Thus, the base 2 fits snugly against the body 1 for easy transport. The arms 11 have been folded in and locked in place. A catch of any known catch from the prior art is used to keep the base 2 snugly but removably attached to the body 1 during transport.
FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the seat being hung over the top of a door to provide additional exercise options. This figure also shows how the seat 3 can be removed and hung over the top of a door 13. The seat 3 has a seat padding 18 section inside the seat that prevents scratches on the door. Resistance bands can be attached to the seat clips 8 to provide additional exercises for the user and can be store in a bag 19.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in an open position. The base 2 in this embodiment is a single piece of metal, plastic, composite, wood or other sturdy material. In the base 2 are four base clips 16, into which resistance bands (not shown in this figure) can be attached. Another embodiment contemplates that rather than a “forward” base clip and a “back” base clip on either side, that there could be a single base clip in an adjustable track on either side of the base. The body 1 is rotably attached to the base 2 by a base hinge 6. The body 1 folds into two separate units at a body hinge 20 which locks in place to hold the body 1 in an upright position when the device is being used, and also locks the body in a folded position for easy transportation. A seat 3 removably and adjustably attaches to the body at two channels 9, that are built into the body. Above the seat 3 is a padding element 10 that provides comfort for the back of the user. At the top of the body there are two arms 11, that are attached to the body at two arm hinges 12. The arm hinges are adjustable up to 180 degrees, such that the arms can be “down” or “up” with five steps in between the two extreme positions. At the end of each arm is an arm connector 15, to which and through which a variety of resistance bands can be run for various exercises.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention in a folded position, ready for transportation. The body has been folded back upon itself at the body hinge 20, and then the folded body has been folded again upon the base 2 at the base hinge 6. The arms have been rotated down to fit into the body at the arm hinges 12. This is the configuration in which the device can be easily transported.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention in a partially unfolded position as a user is preparing it for exercise. In this illustration, the body 1 is unfolding at the body hinge 20, and also unfolding from the base 2 at the base hinge. The arm hinges 12 have not yet been adjusted to rotate the arms away from the body.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the invention in a fully unfolded position. The base 2 and the body 1 are perpendicular to each other, as both the base hinge 6 and the body hinge 20 have been locked at an “unfolded” position.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the invention with two resistance bands attached to the base clips. In this figure, the arms 11 have been rotated to a horizontal position using the arm hinges. The user is resting his back on the padding 10 for comfort, and using the seat 3 to take weight off his feet. He has clipped two resistance bands 4 into two base clips 16 at the front of the base 2. The body hinge is locked to prevent the body from folding in on itself.
FIG. 10 is a back perspective view of the invention with a single resistance band being used across the arms. In this figure, the user has chosen a single resistance band 4 and run it through the two arm connectors 15 at the end of the arms 11. He could also connect the same resistance bands as shown in FIG. 9 to the arm connectors 15.
FIG. 11 is a close-up perspective view of the arm section of the invention. In this figure, the arm 11 has been rotated to a horizontal position using the center adjustment hole 24 of the arm hinge 12. A spring-loaded arm knob 22 is used to remove an arm pin 23 from one adjustment hole 24 and move it to another adjustment hole 24, thereby removably locking the arm in a certain position.
It is also contemplated that the entire unit of arm hinges and arms could be adjustably slid upward to move the arms higher or lower as the user may desire.
It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.
All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

REFERENCE NUMBERS USED

- 1. Body (generally)
- 2. Base (generally)
- 3. Seat (generally)
- 4. Resistance band (generally)
- 5. Base unit
- 6. Base Hinge
- 7. Seat surface
- 8. Seat Clip
- 9. Channel
- 10. Padding
- 11. Arm
- 12. Arm Hinge
- 13. Door
- 14. Extension Bar
- 15. Arm connector
- 16. Base Clip
- 17. Knuckle Hinge
- 18. Seat padding
- 19. Bag
- 20. Body hinge
- 21. Groove
- 22. Arm Knob
- 23. Arm Pin
- 24. Adjustment Holes

Claims

That which is claimed:

1. A multi-function, easily transportable exercise device, comprising: a body, a base, and a seat, and two resistance bands, where the body is hingeably connected to the base by a base hinge,

where the base comprises three base units, where each of the three base units is connected to an adjacent base unit by a base knuckle hinge, where each of two outer base units has a base clip capable of receiving one of the resistance bands, and where the base additionally comprises at least two extension bars,

where the body comprises two body units, where the two body units are connected by a body knuckle hinge,

where the body comprises a channel, a padding element, and two arms, where each of the two arms is rotably connected to the body by an arm hinge, and where each arm has an arm connector, where the arm connector has an arm clip, where the arm clip is capable of receiving one of the resistance bands,

where the seat is removably attached in the channel, where the seat is adjustable to a different location in the channel, where the seat comprises a seat surface and at least two seat clips, where each of the seat clips is capable of receiving one of the resistance bands.

2. The device of claim 1, where the seat has a receiver, where the receiver is located on a bottom of the seat, and where the receiver fits over a top of a door, and where the seat clips are capable of receiving one of the resistance bands, and where positioning the seat at the top of the door provides at least one additional exercise made possible by the device.

3. The device of claim 2, where each of the two resistance bands comprises a handle and a clip end, where the handle is gripped by the user and where the clip end is clipped to at least one of the seat clips, the arm clips and the base clips.

4. The device of claim 3, where the two body units fold in at the body knuckle hinge, where the three base units fold in at the base knuckle hinges, where the arms fold into the body at the arm connectors, where the body folds against the base at the base hinge, and where the seat is removable from the channel, to create a compact, easily transported product.

5. The device of claim 4, where each of the at least two extension bars are slidably extendable beyond an end of the base to provide additional stability to the device.

6. A multi-function, easily transportable exercise device, comprising: a body, a base, and a seat, and two resistance bands, where the body is hingeably connected to the base by a base hinge.

7. The device of claim 6,

where the base comprises at least two base clips, three base units, where each of the three base units is connected to an adjacent base unit by a base knuckle hinge, where each of two outer base units has a base clip capable of receiving one of the resistance bands, and where the base additionally comprises at least two extension bars.

8. The device of claim 6, where the body comprises an upper section and a lower section, and where the upper section is hingeably connected to the lower section by a body hinge where the two body units are connected by a body knuckle hinge.

9. The device of claim 8, where the body comprises a channel and a padding element, where the seat removably and adjustably attaches to the channel.

10. The device of claim 9, where the channel comprises two parallel slits in the body, and additionally comprises at least three bars, where the seat additionally comprises two grips, where the two grips removably secure the seat to one of the at least three bars.

11. The device of claim 10, where the body additionally comprises two arms, where each of the two arms is rotably connected to the body by an arm hinge, and where each arm has an arm connector, where the arm connector has an arm clip, where the arm clip is capable of receiving one of the resistance bands.

12. The device of claim 11, where the seat is removably attached in the channel, where the seat is adjustable to a different location in the channel, where the seat comprises a seat surface and at least two seat clips, where each of the seat clips is capable of receiving one of the resistance bands.

13. The device of claim 12, where the seat has a receiver, where the receiver is located on a bottom of the seat, and where the receiver fits over a top of a door, and where the seat clips are capable of receiving one of the resistance bands, and where positioning the seat at the top of the door provides at least one additional exercise made possible by the device.

14. The device of claim 10, where each of the two resistance bands comprises a handle and a clip end, where the handle is gripped by the user and where the clip end is clipped to at least one of the seat clips, the arm clips and the base clips.

15. The device of claim 6, where the base comprises at least two base clips, three base units, where each of the three base units is connected to an adjacent base unit by a base knuckle hinge, where each of two outer base units has a base clip capable of receiving one of the resistance bands, and where the base additionally comprises at least two extension bars, where the two body units fold in at the body knuckle hinge, where the three base units fold in at the base knuckle hinges, where the arms fold into the body at the arm connectors, where the body folds against the base at the base hinge, and where the seat is removable from the channel, to create a compact, easily transported product.

16. The device of claim 16, where each of the at least two extension bars are slidably extendable beyond an end of the base to provide additional stability to the device.

17. A multi-function, easily transportable exercise device, comprising: a body, a base, and a seat, and two resistance bands, where the body is hingeably connected to the base by a base hinge,

where the body comprises a channel, a padding element, and two arms, where each of the two arms is rotably connected to the body by an arm hinge, and where each arm has an arm connector, where the arm connector has an arm clip, where the arm clip is capable of receiving one of the resistance bands.

18. The device of claim 17, where the seat is removably attached in the channel, where the seat is adjustable to a different location in the channel, where the seat comprises a seat surface and at least two seat clips, where each of the seat clips is capable of receiving one of the resistance bands.

19. The device of claim 18, where each of the two resistance bands comprises a handle and a clip end, where the handle is gripped by the user and where the clip end is clipped to at least one of the seat clips, the arm clips and the base clips, where the two body units fold in at the body knuckle hinge, where the three base units fold in at the base knuckle hinges, where the arms fold into the body at the arm connectors, where the body folds against the base at the base hinge, and where the seat is removable from the channel, to create a compact, easily transported product.

20. The device of claim 19, where each of the at least two extension bars are slidably extendable beyond an end of the base to provide additional stability to the device, where the number of base clips is four, where the seat has a receiver, where the receiver is located on a bottom of the seat, and where the receiver fits over a top of a door, and where the seat clips are capable of receiving one of the resistance bands, and where positioning the seat at the top of the door provides at least one additional exercise made possible by the device.