U.S. patent application number 10/416668 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-22 for exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Haynes, Wayne Ian.
Application Number | 20040014571 10/416668 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25646508 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040014571 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haynes, Wayne Ian |
January 22, 2004 |
Exercise apparatus
Abstract
An exercise apparatus comprises an oblong platform and at least
one detachable convex instability member projecting from the lower
surface of the platform. The platform is of sufficient length for a
person to perform whole body exercises, e.g. in a prone, supine or
semi-supine position, on the platform. The person exercising on the
platform faces the challenge of attempting to maintain the platform
in a horizontal orientation as it rocks or wobbles during the
exercise, thus improving the balancing skills of the user. The
apparatus may be provided in kit form with a plurality of
interchangeable detachable convex instability members of different
forms, shapes and sizes to provide different balancing challenges
of varying degrees of difficulty. The apparatus or kit may also
include one or more exercise aids or attachments, e.g. bars and
exercise balls mountable on the upper surface of the platform.
Inventors: |
Haynes, Wayne Ian; (Albury,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREER, BURNS & CRAIN
300 S WACKER DR
25TH FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
25646508 |
Appl. No.: |
10/416668 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
November 13, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU01/01473 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/142 ;
482/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/16 20130101;
A63B 21/0004 20130101; A63B 2022/0033 20130101; A63B 26/003
20130101; A63B 22/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/142 ;
482/146 |
International
Class: |
A63B 026/00; A63B
022/14; A63B 022/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 13, 2000 |
AU |
PR 1396 |
Jan 16, 2001 |
AU |
PR 2553 |
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus comprising a platform having an upper
surface and a lower surface, and an instability means including at
least one convex member projecting from the lower surface of the
platform, wherein the platform is of sufficient dimensions to allow
an adult person to perform whole body exercises on the platform
with substantially full body contact.
2. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the platform
is large enough for an adult person to perform exercises in a
number of generally horizontal positions, including prone, supine
and on hands and knees, without the body having to contact another
support or support surface.
3. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein
the platform is oblong in shape having a length falling
substantially within the range from about 1.5 m to about 3.0 m.
4. An exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3
wherein the width of the platform falls substantially within the
range from about 0.6 m to about 2.1 m.
5. An exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding
claims wherein said at least one convex member is such that the
platform occupies a substantially horizontal position of
equilibrium when standing at rest on a substantially flat
surface.
6. An exercise apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the apparatus
is designed such that, when the platform carries the body weight of
a person and the centre of gravity of the person is offset in a
horizontal direction from the centre of gravity of the apparatus,
the platform becomes unstable and rocks or wobbles from its
horizontal position of equilibrium.
7. An exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding
claims wherein said at least one convex member has a curved lower
surface which is arranged to stand on the ground or other generally
horizontal surface.
8. An exercise apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the curved
surface of said at least one convex member is part-cylindrical.
9. An exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the curved
surface of said at least one convex member is part-spherical or
part-ovoid.
10. An exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7
wherein the instability means comprises a plurality of convex
members provided on the lower surface of the platform.
11. An exercise apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said
plurality of convex members are part-cylindrical rocker
members.
12. An exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7
wherein the instability means comprises a single convex member
provided on the lower surface of the platform.
13. An exercise apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the single
convex member is dome-shaped.
14. An exercise apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the
dome-shaped convex member has a part-spherical lower surface.
15. An exercise apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the
dome-shaped convex member has a part-ovoid lower surface.
16. An exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 15
wherein the dome-shaped member is disposed with its centre directly
below the centre of the platform.
17. An exercise apparatus according to any of the preceding claims
wherein said at least one convex member is detachably mounted on
the lower surface of the platform.
18. An exercise apparatus comprising a platform having an upper
surface and a lower surface, and instability means including at
least one convex member projecting from the lower surface of the
platform, wherein a plurality of detachable convex members of
different profiles are provided, and said at least one convex
member is detachably mounted on the lower surface of the platform
to enable replacement of said at least one convex member with at
least one other convex member having a different profile.
19. An exercise apparatus according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein
the lower surface of the platform includes a plurality of fixtures
to which said at least one convex member can be detachably
secured.
20. An exercise apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said
plurality of fixtures include parallel attachment members extending
laterally across the lower surface of the platform.
21. An exercise apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the
attachment members each define a channel for receiving an
attachment portion on the upper surface of said at least one convex
member.
22. An exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding
claims wherein the platform has mounting means for mounting at
least one exercise attachment on its upper surface.
23. An exercise apparatus according to claim 22 wherein an exercise
attachment comprising a transversely extending bar is mounted on
the upper surface of the platform.
24. An exercise apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the
transversely extending bar is supported above the platform by posts
received in recesses in the upper surface of the platform.
25. An exercise apparatus according to claim 22 wherein an exercise
attachment comprising an exercise ball is mountable on the upper
surface of the platform.
26. An exercise apparatus comprising a platform having an upper
surface and a lower surface, and instability means including at
least one convex member projecting from the lower surface of the
platform, wherein the platform has mounting means for mounting an
exercise ball on the upper surface of the platform.
27. An exercise apparatus according to claim 25 or claim 26 wherein
the platform has a removable circular portion which, when removed,
leaves a circular opening in the platform for receiving the
exercise ball.
28. An exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 27
wherein the exercise ball is secured to the upper surface of the
platform by one or more straps extending over the exercise ball and
having ends attached to the platform.
29. An exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding
claims wherein the upper surface of the platform is covered with a
resilient, rubber-like material.
30. An exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding
claims wherein the platform is of modular construction and is
formed from a plurality of platform parts.
31. An exercise apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the
platform has a central part and a pair of end parts.
32. An exercise apparatus according to claims 30 or 31 wherein each
of the platform parts has at least one attachment member for a
detachable convex member on its lower surface.
33. An exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 30 to 32
wherein adjacent ends of the platform parts have interengageable
formations.
34. An exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 30 to 33
wherein releasable locking clips are provided for securing the
platform parts together.
35. An exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding
claims wherein the apparatus includes handle means for carrying the
platform.
36. An exercise apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the handle
means is constituted by shaped apertures in the platform forming
hand holds.
37. An exercise kit comprising a platform having an upper surface
and a lower surface, and a plurality of instability means
comprising detachable convex members removably attachable to the
lower surface of the platform, said detachable convex members
having different profiles providing different stability
characteristics when attached to the platform.
38. An exercise apparatus or kit according to any one of claims 18
to 21 or 37 wherein the plurality of detachable convex members
include part-cylindrical rocker members.
39. An exercise apparatus or kit according to claim 38 wherein the
part-cylindrical rocker members include a first set of
substantially D-shaped rocker members having a curved surface with
a relatively large radius of curvature, and a second set of
substantially D-shaped rocker members having a curved surface with
a smaller radius of curvature.
40. An exercise apparatus or kit according to any one of claims 18
to 21 or 37 to 39 wherein the plurality of detachable convex
members include at least one dome-shaped member.
41. An exercise apparatus or kit according to claim 40 wherein a
number of detachable dome-shaped members of varying size and/or
shape and/or radius of curvature are provided.
42. An exercise kit according to any one of claims 37 to 41
including at least one exercise attachment for mounting on the
upper surface of the platform.
43. An exercise kit according to claim 42 wherein an exercise
attachment comprising at least one raised bar is provided for
mounting on the upper surface of the platform.
44. An exercise kit according to claim 42 or claim 43 wherein an
exercise attachment comprising an exercise ball is provided for
mounting on the upper surface of the platform.
45. An exercise kit according to claim 44 wherein the platform has
a removable circular portion which, when removed, leaves a circular
opening in the platform for receiving the exercise ball.
46. An exercise kit according to claim 45 or claim 46 including at
least one strap attachable to the platform for securing the
exercise ball in position.
47. An exercise kit according to any one of claims 37 to 46 wherein
the platform is of modular construction and is formed from a
plurality of detachable platform parts.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to exercise apparatus and relates
particularly, though not exclusively, to exercise apparatus which
is suitable for rehabilitation of muscles, tendons, joints and
neural control of the human body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The research literature relating to exercise physiology is
generally in favour of exercises which are performed in unstable
environments, as such exercises can have many and varied potential
benefits, including:
[0003] (a) improving the speed of muscle contraction to stabilise
the body from falling or loosing balance.
[0004] (b) improving the strength of muscle contraction, due to the
use of eccentric and concentric muscular contractions
[0005] (c) improving general balance and co-ordination.
[0006] To date, one exercise device which uses this principle of an
unstable environment is the so-called "Swiss ball", which is a
large resilient inflatable ball which can be used in a variety of
exercises. It is found to be an excellent tool for general exercise
as well as the rehabilitation of musculo-skeletal injuries.
However, there are various exercises that cannot adequately be
performed with the use of a Swiss ball of the type described.
[0007] It is desirable to provide an exercise apparatus which
allows a wide range of beneficial exercises to be performed by a
user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided
an exercise apparatus comprising a platform having an upper surface
and a lower surface, and an instability means including at least
one convex member projecting from the lower surface of the
platform, wherein the platform is of sufficient dimensions to allow
an adult person to perform whole body exercises on the platform
with substantially full body contact.
[0009] Preferably, the platform is large enough for an adult person
to perform whole body exercises in a number of generally horizontal
positions, including prone, supine, and on hands and knees, without
the body having to contact another support or support surface.
[0010] The platform is preferably oblong in shape and, as an
example, the dimensions of the platform preferably fall
substantially within the range from about 1.5 m to about 3.0 m in
length and about 0.6 m to about 2.1 m in width. Preferably, the
upper surface of the platform is covered in a resilient rubber-like
material.
[0011] Preferably, the at least one convex member is detachable so
that it can be replaced with one or more other convex members
having differing profiles which consequently provide different
stability characteristics. This allows a user to vary the
characteristics of the device to allow different exercises to be
performed with the apparatus.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided an exercise apparatus comprising a platform having an
upper surface and a lower surface, and instability means including
at least one convex member projecting from the lower surface of the
platform, wherein a plurality of convex members of different
profiles are provided, and said at least one convex member is
detachably mounted on the lower surface of the platform to enable
replacement of said at least one convex member with at least one
other convex member having a different profile.
[0013] Preferably, the lower surface of the platform includes a
plurality of fixtures to which the at least one convex member can
be detachably secured.
[0014] Preferably, the at least one convex member attached to the
platform is such that the platform occupies a substantially
horizontal position of equilibrium when standing at rest on a
substantially flat horizontal surface. In use, when the platform
carries the body weight of a person, the apparatus is preferably
designed such that when the centre of gravity of the person is
offset in a horizontal direction from the centre of gravity of the
apparatus, the platform becomes unstable and rocks or wobbles from
its position of equilibrium. The person then faces the challenge of
attempting to keep the platform substantially horizontal while
performing any number of simple or complex exercises on the
apparatus.
[0015] The at least one convex member preferably has a
part-cylindrical, part-spherical or part-ovoid curved surface which
is designed to stand on the ground or other generally horizontal
surface.
[0016] In one embodiment, at least two convex members, such as
part-cylindrical rocker members, are attached to the lower surface
of the platform at spaced intervals from the centre of the
platform.
[0017] In another embodiment, a single convex member, preferably in
the form of a dome-shaped member, is attached to the lower surface
of the platform. The centre of the dome-shaped member is preferably
disposed with its centre directly below the centre of the
platform.
[0018] The platform of the apparatus may have mounting means on its
upper surface for mounting exercise attachments, such as bars, on
the platform,
[0019] In one embodiment, the at least one exercise attachment
comprises a transversely extending bar supported above the platform
by at least one upwardly extending member. It will, however, be
appreciated that different kinds of exercise aids and attachments
may be mounted on the upper surface of the platform for different
exercises. In another embodiment, the exercise attachment comprises
an exercise ball mounted on the platform. For this purpose, the
platform may have a removable circular portion which, when removed,
leaves a circular opening in the platform for receiving the
exercise ball.
[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided an exercise apparatus comprising a platform having an
upper surface and a lower surface, an instability means comprising
at least one convex member projecting from the lower surface of the
platform, wherein the platform has means for mounting an exercise
ball on the upper surface of the platform.
[0021] The apparatus may also include handle means for carrying the
platform. The handle means may conveniently be constituted by
shaped apertures forming hand holds in the platform.
[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an exercise kit comprising a platform having an upper
surface and a lower surface, and a plurality of instability means
comprising detachable convex members removably attachable to the
lower surface of the platform, said detachable convex members
having different profiles providing different stability
characteristics when attached to the platform.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Various preferred embodiments of the present invention will
now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a platform of exercise
apparatus in accordance with the invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the platform of FIG.
1;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of exercise apparatus
with two rocker members attached to the platform;
[0027] FIG. 4 is an end view of the exercise apparatus of FIG.
3;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a side view of the platform of FIG. 1 with bar
members attached to the upper surface;
[0029] FIG. 6 is an end view of the platform of FIG. 5;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of exercise
apparatus with a dome-shaped member attached to the platform;
[0031] FIG. 8 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 7;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a side view of a further embodiment of exercise
apparatus with a different dome-shaped member attached to the
platform;
[0033] FIG. 10 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 9;
[0034] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a modular platform;
[0035] FIG. 12 is a side view of the platform of FIG. 11;
[0036] FIG. 13 is a plan view of another modified embodiment of
exercise apparatus;
[0037] FIG. 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13;
[0038] FIG. 15 is a plan view of one end of the apparatus of FIG.
13 with an exercise ball mounted on the platform;
[0039] FIG. 16 is an end view of the apparatus including the
exercise ball; and
[0040] FIG. 17 is a section on the line 17-17 of FIG. 15.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0041] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a platform 10 for exercise apparatus
having an upper surface 11 and a lower surface 12. A plurality of
attachment members 13, and 14 are provided on the lower surface 12
of the platform 10 to which one or more detachable convex rocker
members 30, 70 or 90 are designed to be attached to form different
embodiments of exercise apparatus in accordance with the
invention.
[0042] The platform 10 preferably comprises a generally oblong
shaped board having substantially straight sides 15 and curved ends
16. The platform 10 may be made of any substantially rigid material
which is designed to carry the weight of a person on the platform.
Suitable materials for construction of the platform include wood,
such as a sturdy craftwood, metal and substantially rigid plastics
materials. Preferably, the upper surface 11 of the platform 10 is
covered with a layer of cushioning material 17 (FIG. 3), such as a
rubberised matting material of the type which is used for exercise
mats.
[0043] The platform 10 is designed to support the weight of a
person in a number of different positions, including prone and
supine positions. The length of the platform preferably falls
substantially within the range from about 1.5 m to about 3 m. The
width of the platform preferably falls substantially within the
range from about 0.9 m to about 2.1 m.
[0044] Referring more specifically to FIG. 2, the attachment
members 13, 14 are in the form of elongate fixtures secured to the
lower surface 12 of the platform 10, eg by screws or other fixing
means. Each fixture 13, 14 has side limbs 22 which are shaped to
define a channel 24 between the limbs 22. As shown in FIG. 2, two
pairs of parallel attachment members 13 and 14 extending laterally
across the platform 10 are provided. A first pair of the attachment
members 13 are provided towards the curved ends 16 of the platform
10 and the second pair of attachment members 14 are provided in a
more central position on either side of the centre of the platform
10. It will, however, be appreciated that the number, form and
location of the attachment members may vary for different types of
exercise apparatus in accordance with the invention.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the platform 10 has a plurality of
mounting recesses 18 in its upper surface 11 for mounting exercise
attachments 50 to the platform 10 as will be described in greater
detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The platform 10 also has a
pair of curved apertures 19 located adjacent the sides 15 of the
platform 10 at intermediate positions along the length of the
platform 10 to provide hand holds for carrying the platform when
not in use.
[0046] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of exercise apparatus in
accordance with the invention in which a pair of convex instability
members in the form of rocker members 30 are detachably mounted to
the first pair of attachment members 13 towards the ends 16 of the
platform 10. Each rocker member 30 is substantially D-shaped having
a part-cylindrical lower surface 32, two opposed, substantially
flat end surfaces 34 and a substantially flat upper surface 36. An
elongate attachment portion 38 provided on the upper surface 36 of
the rocker member 30 is adapted to slide into the channel 24 of a
respective attachment member 13 on the lower surface 12 of the
platform 10 and the rocker member 30 may be secured in position by
a releasable locking means (not shown).
[0047] In use, when resting on a substantially horizontal surface,
the exercise apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 provides a flat platform
which normally occupies a substantially horizontal position of
equilibrium, but which becomes unstable and rocks when a person is
positioned on the platform 10 with his/her centre of gravity offset
from the central longitudinal axis of the platform 10. The
principal use of the exercise apparatus is for the person to
perform exercises, simple or complex, on the platform 10 whilst at
the same time adjusting and correcting his/her position on the
platform 10 in an attempt to balance on the platform 10 by
attempting to restore or maintain the platform 10 in a
substantially horizontal orientation.
[0048] The exercise apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 is preferably
provided as a kit including a number of differently shaped
detachable rocker members 30 so that the degree of difficulty in
balancing on the platform 10 may be varied by substituting one pair
of rocker members for another. For instance, flatter shaped rocker
members 30 having a larger radius of curvature of the curved
surface 32 may provide an easier balancing challenge than rounder
or deeper angled rocker members 30 having a smaller radius of
curvature. The dimensions of the rocker elements 30 may vary from
about 5 cm to 30 cm in length and from about 4 cm to 30 cm in depth
and they can be from about 2 cm to 5 cm thick.
[0049] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a pair of upper exercise attachments 50
attached to the upper surface 12 of the platform 10. Each exercise
attachment 50 comprises a laterally extending cylindrical bar 52
supported above the platform 10 by posts 54 at each end of the bar
52. The upper ends of the upright members 52 are joined to the bar
52 and the lower ends of the posts 54 are releasably mounted in the
mounting recesses 18 in the upper surface 12 of the platform 10.
The exercise attachments 50 are provided to broaden the range of
exercises which may be performed on the platform. For instance, if
only one of bars 52 is used, a person may hook his or her feet
around the bar 52 at one end of the platform 10 and perform sit ups
on the platform. Alternatively, a bar 52 may be gripped by a
person's hand while performing body curls on the platform.
[0050] Whilst there are no rocker members shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
rocker members 30 such as in FIGS. 3 and 4, or a member 70, 90 of
the type which will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10,
will normally be attached to one or more of the attachment members
13, 14 on the lower surface 12 of the platform 10 so that the
person exercising on the platform has to balance in addition to
performing exercises, such as sit ups.
[0051] It will also be appreciated that the types of exercise
attachments which may be detachably mounted to the upper surface of
the platform 10 are not limited to bars 52 and that other types of
exercise attachments may be provided for different exercises.
[0052] FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of exercise apparatus
in accordance with the invention in which a single dome-shaped
instability member 70 is detachably mounted to the second pair of
attachment members 14 in a central position on the lower surface 12
of the platform 10. The dome-shaped rocker member 70 is preferably
formed from a part-spherical metal dome having a part-spherical
lower surface 72, a board 73 provided on a substantially flat upper
surface 74 of the dome and a pair of attachment portions 76 on the
board 73 on the upper surface 74. Each attachment portion 76 is
adapted to slide into the channel of a respective one of the second
pair of attachment members 14 and to be secured in position by a
releasable locking means (not shown).
[0053] As in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the exercise
apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8 provides a flat platform 10 which
normally occupies a substantially horizontal position of
equilibrium when resting on a substantially horizontal surface.
However, when a person is supported on the platform with his/her
centre of gravity offset in a lateral direction from the centre of
the platform 10 and dome-shaped member 70, the platform 10 will
tilt from its horizontal level position. The dome-shaped member 70
therefore allows for tilting or wobbling movements of the platform
10 in all directions thus presenting a person exercising with a
more difficult challenge to balance on the platform 10 by
maintaining the platform 10 in a substantially horizontal position
while performing exercises on the platform 10.
[0054] The degree of difficulty in balancing on the platform 10 may
be varied by providing a number of detachable dome-shaped members
70 of varying shape, size and radius of curvature. For instance,
the diameter of the dome-shaped member 70 may vary from about 15 cm
to about 40 cm or more, and the depth of the dome-shaped member 70
may vary from about 10 cm to about 40 cm or more.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a modified
embodiment of an exercise apparatus having a dome-shaped member 90
of a different shape releasably attached to the lower surface 12 of
the platform 10. The dome-shaped member 90 is preferably formed
from a part-ovoid shaped dome having a part-ovoid lower surface 92,
a board 93 covering a substantially flat upper surface 94 of the
dome and a plurality of attachment portions 96 on the board 93.
Each attachment portion 96 is adapted to slide into the channel of
a respective one of the attachment members 13, 14 on the lower
surface 12 of the platform 10 and to be secured in position by a
releasable locking means (not shown).
[0056] The exercise apparatus of FIGS. 9 and 10 may be used in
similar manner to the apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8. However, because
of the part-ovoid surface 92 of the dome-shaped member 90, the main
tilting or wobbling movement of the platform 10 from its
substantially horizontal position will be a rocking movement from
side to side with a lesser degree of tilting from end to end.
[0057] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a modular construction of a platform
100 for exercise apparatus in accordance with the invention. The
platform 100 is formed from three parts, a central part 110 and a
pair of end parts 120, 130. The central part 110 has a pair of
straight side walls 111 and a pair of end walls 112. Each end wall
112 has a central protruding portion 114. The end parts 120, 130
each have straight side walls 12, a curved end wall 122 and an
opposite end wall 123 with a recess 124 of complementary shape to
the protruding portion 114 of the adjacent end wall 112 of the
central part 110. The cross-sectional shapes of the adjacent end
walls 112, 122 of the central part 110 and the end parts 120, 130
are such that the end walls 112, 122 engage with each other to form
a mortice and tenon joint and the parts 110, 120, 130 are locked
together by releasable locking clips 115 on the side walls 111 of
the central part 110 which engage over projections 125 on the side
walls 121 of the end parts 120, 130.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the central part 110 is
provided with a pair of attachment members 14 on its lower surface
12 and a pair of apertures 19 forming hand holds are provided
adjacent the sides of the central part 110. Each end part 120, 130
is provided with an attachment member 13 on its lower surface 12
and a pair of mounting recesses 18 on its upper surface 11. Thus,
when the platform 100 of FIGS. 11 and 12 is fully assembled it has
essentially the same features as the platform 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2
and may be used to form exercise apparatus as in any one of the
embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 10 by releasably attaching different
convex instability members to the attachment members 13 and/or
14.
[0059] A modular platform is also advantageous in that the central
part 110 may be used with only one of the end parts 120 or 130 to
provide an exercise platform of shorter length when the full length
of the three part platform 110 of FIGS. 11 and 12, for example, for
some exercises such as sit-ups with one exercise bar attachment 50
mounted in the recesses 18 of the end part 120 or 130. With such a
shorter platform, a pair of rocker members 30 of the kind shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 may be attached to the attachment member 13 and the
end attachment member 14 on platform part 110, or a dome-shaped
instability member 70 or 90 of the kind described with reference to
FIGS. 7 to 10 may be attached to the central attachment member 14
or to all three of the attachment members 13, 14 of the two-part
platform.
[0060] Another modified embodiment of an exercise apparatus 200 in
accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 13 to 17. The
apparatus is similar to that of FIGS. 3 and 4 in that it comprises
an oblong platform 210 with a plurality of convex instability
members in the form of D-shaped rocker members 230 detachably
mounted to a pair of transverse attachment members 213 on the lower
surface 212 of the platform towards the ends 216 of the platform
210. If required, a central rocker member 232 may also be
detachably mounted to a central transversely extending attachment
member 214. Alternatively, a dome-shaped instability member, such
as one of the dome-shaped members 70, 90 described with reference
to FIGS. 7 to 9, may be mounted to one or more of the attachment
members 213, 214.
[0061] The exercise apparatus of FIGS. 13 to 17 differs primarily
from those of the previous embodiments in that the platform 210 has
a removal circular portion 220 which, when removed, creates a
circular opening 222 forming a mounting means for mounting on the
upper surface 211 of the platform 210 an exercise aid or attachment
in the form of a large exercise ball 250 of the type known as a
"Swiss ball".
[0062] The exercise ball 250 is received in the circular mounting
opening 222 such that only a small part of the ball 250 extends
below the lower surface 212 of the platform 210 with most of the
ball 250 extending above the upper surface 211 as shown in FIGS. 15
to 17. The exercise ball 250 may be secured in position by a
plurality of straps 240. Each strap 240 has one end attached to a
securing means, such as a hook, for attachment to a mount 242
provided in the upper surface 211 of the platform 210 and the
straps 240 extend over part of the circumference of the ball 250
and are joined together, eg by being sewn or otherwise secured to a
piece of material 245 disposed on top of the ball 250. As shown in
FIG. 15, three straps 240 are provided, though the number and form
of straps may be varied, if required.
[0063] The straps 240 are preferably formed from an elastic
material to assist in mounting and securing the exercise ball
250.
[0064] In use, the exercise ball 250 mounted on the platform
provides the user with a wider variety of possible exercises. For
example, the user may lean on the exercise ball 250 with the upper
part of his/her body supported by the ball and his feet on the
other end of the platform 210.
[0065] The user can then perform whole body exercises on the
exercise ball 250 and, at the same time, attempt to maintain the
platform in a substantially horizontal orientation, thereby
improving his/her balance skills. In this case, the exercise ball
250 act as a fixed apparatus on an unstable supporting platform
220, in contrast to the normal use of a Swiss ball, which is a
moveable apparatus on a fixed surface, eg the ground.
[0066] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present
invention provides a versatile exercise apparatus having a platform
for exercising to which different forms and shapes of instability
members and exercise attachments may be detachably mounted so that
the person using the apparatus may perform a wide variety of
exercises in a number of different positions on the oblong
platform, including the following positions: prone, supine,
semi-supine, quadruped (four point hand and knee contact),
standing, lunge and squatting.
[0067] The exercise apparatus provides different levels of
difficulty challenges ranging from gentle rocking movement with
rocker attachments having a gentle curved surface, to exercises
with a centrally positioned dome-shaped member that provides
freedom of movement for the platform to tilt not only from side to
side but also back and forth and in all combinations of these two
directions.
[0068] The apparatus of the invention also allows for different
levels of capability and when a novice has improved his balance
skills with a gently curved instability member, the challenge can
be increased by changing the detachable instability member with
another instability member having a more sharply curved
surface.
[0069] The exercises may be performed on the platform either with
or without weights, exercise attachments on the upper surface of
the platform or other external exercise devices, such as
ab-rockers.
[0070] The exercise apparatus of the present invention enables
unique balancing exercises to be performed and can be used in a
wide variety of locations, such as rehabilitation centres,
gymnasiums and in the home. It is also readily transportable and
can be easily carried by means of the handholds 19.
[0071] It will be appreciated that various modifications and
additions may be made to the preferred embodiments described above
with reference to the drawings without departing from the scope and
spirit of the present invention. For example, in another
alternative embodiment, a number of resilient members, such as coil
springs, may be mounted on the lower surface of the platform in
addition to the at least one convex member, so that the apparatus
is put under tension when it rocks, tilts or wobbles.
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