WO2005044400A1

WO2005044400A1 - Exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2005044400A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/001539
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neville Charles Whiteley
Original assignee: Neville Charles Whiteley
Priority date: 2003-11-10
Filing date: 2004-11-10
Publication date: 2005-05-19

Abstract

A slidable support platform assembly for an inclined rail exercise machine is described. The platform assembly includes a support section which in a first lowered mode of use of the exercise machine, the support section is substantially coplanar with the platform assembly. Additionally, in a second raised mode of use of the exercise machine the support section is movable to an elevated position to form a raised seat section to allow a user to be seated thereon during an exercise routine.

Description

EXERCISE APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise apparatus. In one particular form, the present invention relates to exercise apparatus of the slidable inclined platform variety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As home exercise has become increasingly popular, easily stored collapsible apparatus which are employed to exercise a number of muscle groups have been developed. In one form, these devices involve a slidable support platform mounted on inclined rails with associated pulleys and cables. The intensity of exercise can then be varied by changing the angle of inclination of the rails and hence the plane of movement in which the slidable platform moves.

United States Patent No. 5,967,955 describes such an exercise machine which consists of a set of inner rails pivotally connected to a slide bar adjustably supported by a vertical support member and a set of outer rails pivotally connected to the set of inner rails at a rail pivot point with a strut pivotally connected to the vertical support member and the rail pivot point. A user support platform is guided for movement along the inner and outer rails when the inner and outer rails are extended from the vertical support member. Pulleys are connected to the vertical support member and a connector extends through the pulley to the user support platform thus allowing an exerciser positioned on the user support platform to propel the exerciser along the inner and outer rails. When not in use, the exercise machine is foldable to allow for easy storage.

A serious disadvantage of this type of exercise device is that the platform, whilst often padded, does not provide a comfortable supported exercising position for the person using trie exercise machine. This disadvantage becomes more pronounced if the user of the exercise machine is either temporarily or permanently disabled and hence is unable to assume the correct exercise position without further support. This also applies increasingly to more aged exercisers who often have restricted mobility and cannot kneel, sit or lie directly on the platform.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus of the slidable inclined platform variety which enables a user to exercise in a more comfortably supported position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention accordingly provides a slidable support platform assembly for an inclined rail exercise machine, said platform assembly including a support section which in a first lowered mode of use of said exercise machine said support section is substantially coplanar with said platform assembly, while in a second raised mode of use of said exercise machine, said support section is movable to an elevated position to form a raised seat section to allow a user to be seated thereon during an exercise routine.

When required, the platform assembly can be reconfigured from a standard support platform to one incorporating a raised seat thus allowing a user of the exercise machine to perform their exercise routine in a comfortable supported seating position. This is particularly advantageous when a user may have some disability or impairment that prevents them using the exercise machine in the first lowered mode of use.

Preferably, said platform assembly includes a plurality of support sections which in said lowered mode of use of said exercise machine said plurality of support sections are configured to be substantially coplanar, whilst in a second raised mode of use of said exercise machine, at least one of said support sections is movable to an elevated position to form said raised seat section. In this manner, the size and number of the support sections may be varied according to the exercise requirement. In a typical forward facing configuration, a support section in the lowered state will form a convenient foot rest to a user of the exercise machine.

Preferably, a further support section is pivotably connected to said seat section, said further support section moveable to form a back or front rest support to said seat section.

A back or front rest support for the seat section further improves the useability of the exercise machine especially for those severely disabled users who require more support.

Preferably, said platform assembly includes a removable back or front rest support which can be attached to the seat section.

Preferably, said support platform assembly is manually operable to change said support platform assembly from said first lowered mode of use to said second raised mode of use. Thus the exercise machine can be easily reconfigured according to the requirements of the individual user.

Optionally, said support platform assembly includes an automatic elevating drive mechanism to raise and lower said seat section.

Preferably, said platform assembly includes biasing means to provide a biasing force to bias said platform assembly from travelling up said inclined exercise machine. This allows the user to further increase the difficulty of an exercise routine for a given inclination of the exercise machine. This is especially important where a disabled or impaired user may not feel comfortable exercising on a substantial incline. Preferably, said biasing means includes a plurality of resilient bands attached at one end to said platform assembly and at an opposed end to said exercise machine.

Preferably, at least one of said plurality of resilient bands is removably attached to said platform assembly to vary said biasing force.

Preferably, said platform assembly further including wheelchair support means located on opposite sides of said platform and secured thereto, for supporting and locating the wheels of said wheelchair thereby allowing a person to be seated on said wheelchair during an exercise routine.

Preferably, said wheelchair support means includes a pair of elongate wheel locating channels attached respectively to opposite sides of the platform and extending therealong.

Preferably, said wheelchair support means further includes adjustable wheel abutment means to allow wheels of different sizes to be located in said wheel channels and restrained against fore and aft movement.

For those disabled persons who are confined to a wheelchair, this provides a convenient means to exercise as they can simply wheel their wheelchair onto the platform assembly (with the platform assembly in the first lowered mode of use) and commence their exercise routine.

In a second aspect the present invention accordingly provides an inclined rail exercise machine including the slidable support platform assembly according to a first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably, said inclined rail exercise machine includes ramp means to facilitate entry of said wheels into said wheel channels. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a slidable support platform assembly incorporated into an exercise machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the platform assembly illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the platform assembly iliustrated in Figure 1 being used by a person seated in a wheelchair.

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated an exercise machine 100 of the well known slidable inclined platform variety. Exercise machine 100 includes a vertical support member 110 and a collar 120, moveable along the vertical support member 110 and fixable at various points typically by use of a locking pin or other suitable arrangement.

A pair of inclined rails 130, 140 are pivotably connected to collar 120 by hinge 121 thus allowing the degree of inclination of the rails 130, 140 to be varied by repositioning collar 120 along vertical support member 110. A pulley arrangement consisting of a first pulley 111 attached to collar 120 and cooperating pulleys 112, 113 mounted at the top of vertical support member 110 may be operated by a user of exercise machine 100 by pulling cord 114 to raise collar 120 up vertical support member 110. This pulley arrangement is particularly suitable for a wheelchair user who otherwise would not be able to easily adjust the inclination of exercise machine 100. Bracing strut 150 is also pivotably connected by a hinge arrangement to the bottom of vertical support member 110 and rails 130, 140. Gas strut 155 pivotably attached at a first end to vertical support member 110 and at a second end to bracing strut 150 further serves as safety measure preventing the inadvertent collapse of exercise machine 100. Adjustable stabilising members 160, 170 connected to hinge 121 and collar arrangement 120, further provide stabilisation for any movement of exercise machine 100 transverse to the direction of inclined rails 130, 140.

Slidable platform assembly 10 includes rollers (not shown) which engage with rails 130, 140 allowing platform assembly 10 to move forwards and backwards along the inclined plane defined by rails 130, 140. A user 200 of exercise device 100 raises platform assembly up inclined rails 130, 140 by a cable and pulley arrangement which includes a first pulley 11 mounted centrally at the front of platform assembly 10. A further two pulleys 122, 123 are mounted at the top of respective inclined rails 130 and 140 and cable 12 incorporating a pair of handles 13, 14 located at each end is threaded through pulleys 11, 122, 123. As the user 200 draws the handles away from vertical support member 110 and towards themself, platform assembly 10 will be drawn up inclined rails 130, 140. Additionally, user 200 is able to sit on the platform 10 facing in either direction depending on the exercise being performed.

Slidable platform assembly 10 further includes three padded sections forming a back rest forming section 40, middle seat forming section 20 and rear section 30. In a deployed position (as is shown in Figures 1 and 2), seat forming section 20 and connected back rest forming section 40 are elevated from platform assembly 10 by collapsible scissor arrangement 70 allowing the seat forming section 20 and back rest forming section 40 to be raised from a substantially coplanar first position to an elevated locked position as required.

Collapsible scissor arrangement 70 includes pairs of opposed interlinked struts 71, 72 which pivot about respective central pin joints 76, 77. Referring in detail to interlinked strut 71, feet 73, 74 of the strut members slidably engage with respective slots in a cradle arrangement incorporated into platform assembly 10. Similarly, the top ends of the respective strut members also slidably engage with respective slots 78, 79 located under middle seat forming section 20. The slots in both the platform assembly 10 and the seat forming section 20 further include spring loaded detent positions (not shown) so that the ends of the strut members can be releasably locked into position when the seat forming section 20 is in the elevated position. Interlinked strut 72 uses an identical arrangement to that of interlinked strut 71.

As would be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, other arrangements which elevate seat forming portion 20 above the plane of the platform assembly 10 including but not limited to hydraulic or electrical lifting devices are also considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Back rest forming section 40 is connected to seat forming section 20 by opposed struts 41 which are pivotably connected to the sides of seat forming section 20 and back rest forming section 40 respectively. To erect seat, engagement or bracing pin 42 which locks struts 41 to back rest forming section 40, is removed and back rest forming section 40 and opposed struts 41 are raised to an intermediate position 40a, 41a. Back rest forming portion 40 is then rotated anticlockwise to form a back rest 40b with opposed struts 41b having been located to a position of maximum rotation now functioning as arms 41b to support back rest 40b. Engagement or bracing pin 42 is then reinserted into the side of back rest 40b thereby locking back rest 40b in place.

As would be clear to those skilled in the art, a number of arrangements may be used to provide the functionality of employing a support section that initially forms part of the platform assembly which on reconfiguration then forms a back rest to the elevated seat portion. Whilst in this preferred embodiment, the front section 40 has been employed to form the back rest, equally the back section 30 could be mounted to seat forming section 20 and adjusted from an initial orientation substantially coplanar with the platform assembly 10 to an upright position to form a back rest or alternatively a front rest support (depending on the exercise requirement) by a suitable mounting arrangement such as a mechanical over centre linkage or the like. Additionally, the size and number of sections which form slidable support platform assembly 10 may be varied according to the exercise requirement.

A separate back or front rest support 190 is also provided which is conveniently removably mounted to the rear of exercise machine 100. The user may also choose to use support 190 by locating it at suitable mounting points on platform assembly 10 as required. Thus the user 200 of exercise machine 100 is provided with a large degree of flexibility when configuring exercise machine 100 for use. Additionally, the user 200 of exercise machine 100 may exercise in a rearwards facing position. In this case, cord 12 would be threaded through pulleys 54 mounted on opposed sides and towards the front of platform assembly 10 thereby providing a stabilised pulley arrangement for exercising in this position.

To increase the amount of effort required by user 200 to propel platform assembly 10 up inclined ramps 130, 140, a number of resilient straps or cords 15 may be fixedly attached to a rear portion 145 of exercise machine 100 and removably attached to front portion 16 of platform assembly 10. Resilient straps 15 function to bias platform assembly 10 against movement up inclined ramps 130, 140 thereby requiring user 200 to exert more force to raise platform assembly 10. The amount of force can be changed by varying the number of resilient straps 15 which are attached to the front portion 16 of platform assembly 10.

Referring now to Figure 2, which illustrates a side view of the platform assembly 10 depicted in Figure 1, shown in dotted outline is platform assembly 10 in non deployed position 300 "with seat forming section 320 and back rest forming section 340 lying substantially coplanar with back section 30 thus making exercise machine 100 more convenient to store. In the deployed position, user 200 seated on seat forming section 20 and being supported by back rest forming section 40b is able to exercise conveniently.

In operation, a person wishing to deploy and use exercise machine 100 will simply lift seat forming section 20 and attached back rest forming section 40 from the collapsed first coplanar position. As described previously, seat forming section 20 is able to be raised due to the ends of strut members of the collapsible scissor arrangement 70 being able to slide together in their respective guide slots and then releasably lock in a locking recess or slot which communicates with guide slots 78, 79. Once the seat 20 is locked in the elevated position, the back rest forming section 40 can be further raised and locked in position as also described previously.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, attached to each side of sliding platform assembly 10 are first and second wheel locating channels 50, 51 designed and arranged to accommodate the wheels of a wheelchair. Attached to the rear of rails 130, 140 are ramps 180, 181 which facilitate the entry of a wheelchair into channels 50, 51. As shown in Figure 3, a disabled person 200 seated in wheelchair 500 is able to wheel the wheelchair up ramps 180, 181 so that the wheels of the wheelchair 501, 502 lie within wheel locating channels 50, 51 which support the wheelchair 500 for exercise on platform assembly 10.

The wheels can be locked or restrained against fore and aft movement by front abutment plates or chocks 53 mounted at the leading or inner end of the channels and designed to abut against respective wheels of the wheelchair (as shown in Figure 3) and rear engagement rod 52. The abutment plates 53 may be nested, one on top of the other and made of different sizes to accommodate wheels of different diameters. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, various other locking arrangements may be employed to ensure that the wheelchair 500 is securely retained during an exercise session. Thus the channels 50, 51 permit a disabled person or user 200 to exercise on the platform whilst seated in the wheelchair 500 with the platform assembly 10 in the collapsed coplanar position 300.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS

1. A slidable support platform assembly for an inclined rail exercise machine, said platform assembly including a support section which, in a first lowered mode of use of said exercise machine, said support section is substantially coplanar with said platform assembly, while in a second raised mode of use of said exercise machine said support section is movable to an elevated position to form a raised seat section to allow a user to be seated thereon during an exercise routine.

2. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said platform assembly includes a plurality of support sections which in said lowered mode of use of said exercise machine said plurality of support sections are configured to be substantially coplanar, whilst in a second raised mode of use of said exercise machine, at least one of said support sections is movable to an elevated position to form said raised seat section.

3. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein a further support section is pivotably connected to said seat section, said further support section moveable to form a back or front rest support to said seat section.

4. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said platform assembly includes a removable back or front rest support which can be attached to the seat section.

5. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support platform assembly is manually operable to change said support platform assembly from said first lowered mode of use to said second raised mode of use.

6. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said support platform assembly includes an automatic elevating drive mechanism to raise and lower said seat section.

7. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said platform assembly includes biasing means to provide a biasing force to bias said platform assembly from travelling up said inclined exercise machine.

8. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said biasing means includes a plurality of resilient bands attached at one end to said platform assembly and at an opposed end to said exercise machine.

9. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of resilient bands is removably attached to said platform assembly to vary said biasing force.

10. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said platform assembly further including wheelchair support means located on opposite sides of said platform and secured thereto, for supporting and locating the wheels of said wheelchair thereby allowing a person to be seated on said wheelchair during an exercise routine.

11. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said wheelchair support means includes a pair of elongate wheel locating channels attached respectively to opposite sides of the platform and extending therealong.

12. A slidable support platform assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein said wheelchair support means further includes adjustable wheel abutment means to allow wheels of different sizes to be located in said wheel channels and restrained against fore and aft movement.

13. An inclined rail exercise machine including the slidable support platform assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. An inclined rail exercise machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein said device includes ramp means to facilitate entry of said wheels into said wheel channels.