U.S. patent application number 10/112723 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-02 for exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Keeler, Nick Q..
Application Number | 20030186792 10/112723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28453410 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030186792 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keeler, Nick Q. |
October 2, 2003 |
Exercise apparatus
Abstract
An exercise aid with a crenellated surface is spaced from a
support surface such as a wall or door. An elastomeric resistance
member is slid between the crenellated surface and the support
surface to be located in a selected crenel at a selected height.
Exercises are performed by grasping the elastomeric resistance
member and extending the member against the resistance of the
exercise aid which is attached to the support surface.
Inventors: |
Keeler, Nick Q.;
(Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GOWLING, LAFLEUR HENDERSON LLP
SUITE 560, 120 KING STREET WEST
PO BOX 1045, LCD 1
HAMILTON
ON
L8N 3R4
CA
|
Family ID: |
28453410 |
Appl. No.: |
10/112723 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/129 ;
482/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0557 20130101;
A63B 21/1627 20130101; A63B 21/1645 20130101; A63B 21/169 20151001;
A63B 21/0004 20130101; A63B 21/0552 20130101; A63B 21/4043
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/129 ;
482/121 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/02; A63B
021/04 |
Claims
1. An exercise aid having a crenellated surface and extending
longitudinally between end portions, said end portions extending
transversely to said crenellated surface for spacing the
crenellated surface from a support surface to define a space for
slidingly receiving an elongate elastomeric resistance member
therebetween.
2. Exercise aid according to claim 1 having an elongate support
member coupled to said end portions and supporting a crenellated
rod, said rod defining the crenellated surface.
3. Exercise aid according to claim 1 having fasteners for securing
the end portions to a support surface.
4. Exercise aid according to claim 1 having a pair of adjustable
securement straps for securing the exercise aid to a support
surface.
5. Exercise aid assembly having an exercise aid according to claim
1 and an elongate elastomeric resistance member with hand grips
fixed to opposite ends thereof.
6. Exercise aid according to claim 2 having fasteners for securing
the end portions to a support surface.
7. Exercise aid according to claim 2 having a pair of adjustable
securement straps for securing the exercise aid to a support
surface.
8. Exercise aid assembly having an exercise aid according to claim
2 and an elongate elastomeric resistance member with hand grips
fixed to opposite ends thereof.
9. Exercise apparatus comprising an exercise aid according to claim
1 coupled to a vertical support surface at said end portions,
securement means for securing the exercise aid to said vertical
support surface, and an elongate elastomeric resistance member with
hand grips formed on opposite ends thereof slidable between said
crenellated surface and said vertical support surface for location
at a selected crenel on said crenellated surface.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an exercise aid which when coupled
with an elastomeric resistance element may be used as an exercise
apparatus to perform various exercises to firm and tone the body as
it stretches against the resistance offered by the elastomeric
resistance member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The benefits of exercise are well recognized particularly
when performed on a regular basis. One disadvantage of many
existing exercise apparatus is that they are bulky and expensive
with the result that many individuals do not find them affordable
or convenient to use in their home or when they are travelling away
from home. As a result, many gymnastic facilities are available so
that a number of exercise apparatus may be used, such facilities
often being provided at holiday resorts as well as hotels to
accommodate the requirements of guests who wish to maintain a
regular exercise routine.
[0003] An object of this invention is to provide a simple exercise
aid which is inexpensive and readily mounted to a fixed structure
so that it will be convenient and available to a user whether
exercising at home or away from home.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with this invention there is provided an
exercise aid having a crenellated surface and which extends
longitudinally between end portions, the end portions extending
transversely to the crenellated surface for spacing the crenellated
surface from a support surface such as a wall to define a space for
slidingly receiving an elastomeric resistance member
therebetween.
[0005] When combined with an elastomeric member, preferably with
handgrips fixed to opposite ends of the elastomeric member, the
exercise aid defines an exercise apparatus which can be mounted
permanently at the home or other desired location with fasteners to
secure the apparatus to a wall or temporarily with securement
straps to the front edge of the door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In order that the invention can be more clearly understood,
a preferred embodiment is described below with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise aid in
combination with an elastomeric member having hand grips;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1
mounted to a vertical wall surface;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2 of circled area three and
drawn to a larger scale;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1
secured to a door with securement straps; and
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
an exercise aid made in accordance with the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT WITH REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS
[0012] An exercise aid made in accordance with the invention is
generally indicated in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 20. The exercise
aid 20 has a crenellated surface defined by a crenellated rod 22
having a plurality of crenels 24 spaced along the length thereof
between merlons 26. In the embodiment illustrated, the crenellated
rod 22 is fixed at its ends to an elongate support member 28 in the
form of a wood bar. The elongate support bar 28, in this case,
extends along the length of the crenellated rod 22 and has a pair
of end portions in the form of blocks 30 which extend transversely
to the elongate support bar so as to space the crenellated rod 22
from a support surface.
[0013] The exercise aid 20 is shown in FIG. 2 mounted to a vertical
support surface such as a wall 32 having an exterior plaster
covering 34 and an inner vertically extending wall joist 36. Here
it will be seen that the elongate support bar 28 and the end blocks
30 are pre-drilled to define a countersunk opening 38 at each end
of the support bar 28 for receiving a threaded fastener 40 (see
detail view of FIG. 3).
[0014] As seen most clearly in FIG. 3 the end blocks 30 not only
serve to mount the exercise aid 20 to the wall 32 but also space
the crenellated rod 22 from the surface of the wall 32 by a
distance sufficient to slidingly receive an elastomeric resistance
member 42 between the crenellated rod 22 and the wall surface. The
elastomeric resistance member 42 shown more fully in FIGS. 1 and 2
may consist of a length of rubber tubing or suitable equivalent
which will resist stretching so that a user grasping hand grips 44
provided at the ends of the elastomeric resistance member 42 will
have to exercise force to stretch the member and upon release of
the force, the member 42 will resume its original length. The hand
grips 44 are shown in the form of loops having a slot for coupling
to the elastomeric member 42. In this way, the grips 44 may be
disengaged from the elastomeric member, if this is desired, or the
effective length of the elastomeric member can be adjusted.
Conveniently, the hand grips 44 are of sufficiently narrow width
that they can be threaded through the space between the crenellated
rod 32 and the wall 34 to be disengaged from the exercise aid
20.
[0015] As indicated by the ghost-outline position shown in FIG. 2
of the drawings, the elastomeric resistance member 42 may be moved
vertically to a selected crenel 24 to any desired height suitable
for performing any particular exercise or for accommodating users
of different height. In FIG. 3, the elastomeric resistance member
42 is shown in cross-section and located by the crenel 24 adjacent
to a bottom end of the exercise aid 20.
[0016] While it is preferred for the exercise aid 20 to be mounted
permanently to a vertical surface such as a wall in the manner
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be appreciated that the
device may be transported by a user for temporary mounting to any
convenient vertical surface including a post, a door, or even a
tree. In FIG. 4, the exercise aid 20 is shown coupled to the front
edge 46 of a door 48 shown in an open position spaced from a door
jam 50. The door 48 may be held in the open position illustrated by
a door stop (not shown). A pair of securement straps 52 adjustable
in length and disposed at opposite ends of the exercise aid are
used to encircle the door 48 with the exercise aid 20 disposed
between the straps 52 and the front edge 46 of the door 20. While
the exercise aid 20 has been shown in FIG. 4 to be mounted in an
upper vertical portion of the door 48, it may equally be mounted to
a lower vertical portion of the door and if desired, two such aids
could be mounted one above the other.
[0017] It will be appreciated that several variations may be made
to the above-described preferred embodiment of the invention within
the scope of the appended claims, as will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. The crenellated rod 22 could be fixed to the
end blocks 30 instead of the elongate support bar 28. It will also
be appreciated that the elongated crenellated rod does not need to
extend the full length of the associated support bar.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 5, an exercise aid 60 is integrally
fabricated in one piece, a crenellated surface 62 being formed on
an elongate support bar 64 on one side thereof between a pair of
integrally formed end blocks 66,68 for spacing the support bar 64
from a support surface. The crenellated surface 62 has a plurality
of crenels 70 spaced along the length thereof between respective
merlons 72. An elastomeric resistance member 74 is shown in FIG. 5
trapped in a crenel 70 at a selected height in similar fashion to
the elastomeric resistance member 42 of FIG. 1. Respective hand
grips 76 are provided at free ends of the elastomeric resistance
member 74.
[0019] Still further variations will be apparent to those skilled
in the art.
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