U.S. patent application number 10/950931 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for exercise device for under a desk.
Invention is credited to Neff, John D..
Application Number | 20050054492 10/950931 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37986063 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050054492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neff, John D. |
March 10, 2005 |
Exercise device for under a desk
Abstract
A pair of horizontal pivotable rowing arms and second pivotable
vertical arms pivot on oil hydraulic motion resistance wedges
attached to an underside of a desk. A vertical support with bicycle
type pedals and handle bars pivots out at a desired angle for use.
Other resistance devices may be a spring, rubberized cord, magnet,
or air cylinder. Hand grips twist and have tension arms for
gripping exercises as well as moving the lever arm for full arm
exercises. Foot straps on a foot board and bicycle pedals enable
leg exercises.
Inventors: |
Neff, John D.; (Austin,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald W. Meeker
Patent Agent
924 East Ocean Front #E
Newport Beach
CA
92661
US
|
Family ID: |
37986063 |
Appl. No.: |
10/950931 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10950931 |
Sep 25, 2004 |
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10621075 |
Jul 15, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 ;
482/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/055 20130101;
A63B 24/00 20130101; A63B 2220/13 20130101; A63B 21/023 20130101;
A63B 2069/064 20130101; A63B 21/0087 20130101; A63B 2071/0644
20130101; A63B 2220/16 20130101; A63B 2208/0233 20130101; A63B
22/0012 20130101; A63B 2225/05 20130101; A63B 21/00072 20130101;
A63B 22/0076 20130101; A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 2022/0035
20130101; A63B 21/00069 20130101; A63B 69/06 20130101; A63B 21/0083
20130101; A63B 22/203 20130101; A63B 2230/75 20130101; A63B 22/0046
20130101; A63B 2210/58 20130101; A63B 2225/055 20130101; A63B
21/0421 20130101; A63B 22/0007 20130101; A63B 21/4047 20151001;
A63B 22/02 20130101; A63B 2022/0041 20130101; A63B 2022/0082
20130101; A63B 2069/066 20130101; A63B 21/0552 20130101; A63B
22/0664 20130101; A63B 21/008 20130101; A63B 22/0694 20130101; A63B
2210/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/057 ;
482/072 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lever-arm rowing type exercise device mountable in a leg space
under a desk or cubicle work surface, the device comprising: a pair
of rowing lever arms adapted to attach to a desk surface within an
under-desk leg space of a desk, each of the pair of rowing lever
arms comprising a first end attachable to a desk surface by a
horizontal pivotable means and a second end having a handle aligned
in a proximal parallel alignment with a front of a desk, the
handles adapted to be grasped like oars of a boat and pulled toward
a user pivoting the rowing lever arms horizontally in a movement
simulating rowing a boat with oars in oarlocks; a pivot resistance
means attachable between each of the pair of rowing lever arms and
the desk surface to create a resistance to pivoting the pair of
rowing lever arms for the purpose of exercising by pulling to pivot
the pair of rowing lever arms horizontally.
2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of
rowing lever arms is attachable to a desk surface adjacent to one
wall of an under-desk leg space and each of the handles protrude
horizontally out of a front of a desk adjacent to an opposite wall
of an under-desk leg space and each of the pair of rowing lever
arms is adapted to pivot away from a desk toward a user seated in
front of a desk.
3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the pivot resistance
means comprises a hydraulic chamber.
4. The exercise device of claim 3 wherein the hydraulic chamber
comprises an oil filled chamber with oil of a desired
viscosity.
5. The exercise device of claim 3 wherein the hydraulic chamber
comprises a liquid Silicon filled chamber with liquid Silicon of a
desired viscosity.
6. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprising a second pair
of lever arms adapted to attach to a desk surface within a leg
space of a desk, each of the second pair of lever arms comprising a
first end attachable to a desk surface by a vertical pivotable
means and a second end having a handle aligned in a proximal
perpendicular alignment with a front of a desk, the handles adapted
to be grasped and pushed forward and down and pulled upward and
back, and a pivot resistance means attachable between each of the
second pair of lever arms and the desk surface to create a
resistance to pivoting the second pair of lever arms for the
purpose of exercising by pulling and pushing to pivot the second
pair of lever arms vertically.
7. The exercise device of claim 6 wherein the pivot resistance
means comprises a hydraulic chamber.
8. The exercise device of claim 7 wherein the hydraulic chamber
comprises an oil filled chamber with oil of a desired
viscosity.
9. The exercise device of claim 7 wherein the hydraulic chamber
comprises a liquid Silicon filled chamber with liquid Silicon of a
desired viscosity.
10. The exercise device of claim 7 wherein the lever arms are
structured by a lever arm structure taken from the list of
structures including one piece lever arms, telescopic lever arms,
or two piece lever arms that are joined by a length adjustable
threaded connection.
11. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprising a vertical
support attachable to a desk surface and a pair of foot pedals
attachable to the vertical support by a rotatable means having a
tension means for exercising a user's legs in a bicycle pedaling
movement.
12. The exercise device of claim 11 wherein the vertical support is
attachable to a desk by a means for moving the vertical support
forward at any desired angle for usage and backward for
storage.
13. The exercise device of claim 12 further comprising a handle bar
attached to the vertical support, the handle bar adapted for
grasping by a user to tilt the vertical support toward a user to a
comfortable angle for pedaling and away from the user for storage
and adapted for grasping by a user during pedaling.
14. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprises a motion
sensing means for each of the exercise components and at least one
cable from the sensing means to a USB port of a personal computer
to transmit motion data to a computer, and a software program in a
computer to process the motion data and translate it into health
related information, such as the number of calories burned during
each exercise session, which information may be viewed on a
computer monitor using graphics and words and sound if desired and
simulated images related to an exercise.
15. A lever-arm rowing type exercise device mountable in a leg
space under a desk or cubicle work surface, the device comprising:
a pair of rowing lever arms adapted to attach to a desk surface
within an under-desk leg space of a desk, each of the pair of
rowing lever arms comprising a first end attachable to a desk
surface by a horizontal pivotable means and a second end having a
handle aligned in a proximal parallel alignment with a front of a
desk, the handles adapted to be grasped like oars of a boat and
pulled toward a user pivoting the rowing lever arms horizontally in
a movement simulating rowing a boat with oars in oarlocks; a
horizontally aligned pivot resistance means attachable between each
of the pair of rowing lever arms and the desk surface to create a
resistance to pivoting the pair of rowing lever arms for the
purpose of exercising by pulling to pivot the pair of rowing lever
arms horizontally, a second pair of lever arms adapted to attach to
a desk surface within a foot space of a desk, each of the second
pair of lever arms comprising a first end attachable to a desk
surface by a vertical pivotable means and a second end having a
handle aligned in a proximal perpendicular alignment with a front
of a desk, the handles adapted to be grasped and pushed forward and
down and pulled upward and back; a vertically aligned pivot
resistance means attachable between each of the second pair of
lever arms and the desk surface to create a resistance to pivoting
the second pair of lever arms for the purpose of exercising by
pulling and pushing to pivot the second pair of lever arms
vertically.
16. The exercise device of claim 15 further comprising an oil
hydraulic resistance adjustable wedge-shaped pivot attached between
each of the arms and an underside of a desk to create an adjustable
resistance to the motion of each of the lever arms.
17. The exercise device of claim 15 further comprising a vertical
support attachable to a desk by a means for moving the vertical
support forward at any desired angle for usage and backward for
storage and a pair of foot pedals pivotally attached to the
vertical support by a rotatable means having a tension means for
exercising a user's legs in a bicycle pedaling movement, and
further comprising a handle bar attached to the vertical support,
the handle bar adapted for grasping by a user to tilt the vertical
support toward a user to a comfortable angle for pedaling and away
from the user for storage and adapted for grasping by a user during
pedaling.
18. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the lever arms and the
vertical support of the present invention are each attachable to an
underside of a desk by an attachment means taken from a list of
attachment means including double stick tape, suction cups,
threaded fasteners, and an attaching plate secured to an underside
of a desk by brackets or threaded fasteners or adhesive attachment
means.
19. A lever-arm rowing type exercise device mountable in a leg
space under a desk or cubicle work surface, the device comprising:
at least one lever arm attachable to a desk surface within a foot
space of a desk by a pivotable means at a first end of the at least
one lever arm; a tension means attachable between the at least one
lever arm and the desk surface to create a resistance to moving the
at least one lever arm for the purpose of exercising by moving the
at least one lever arm; a hand grip attached to the at least one
lever arm at a second end of the lever arm, the hand grip enabling
movement of the at least one lever arm by a user, the hand grip
further comprising a means for turning relative to the at least one
lever arm for wrist twisting exercise and a squeeze handle
pivotally mounted to the hand grip with a tension means
therebetween for performing hand gripping exercises; at least one
second lever arm attachable to the desk surface within the foot
space of the desk by a pivotable means at a first end of the at
least one second lever arm; a tension means attachable between the
at least one second lever arm and the desk surface to create a
resistance to moving the at least one second lever arm for the
purpose of exercising by moving the at least one second lever arm;
a foot attaching portion attached to the at least one second lever
arm at a second end of the at least one second lever arm, the foot
attaching portion capable of receiving at least one foot of a user
for the purpose of moving the at least one second lever arm for leg
exercises; at least one second lever arm attachable to the desk
surface within the foot space of the desk by a pivotable means at a
first end of the at least one second lever arm; a tension means
attachable between the at least one second lever arm and the desk
surface to create a resistance to moving the at least one second
lever arm for the purpose of exercising by moving the at least one
second lever arm; a foot attaching portion attached to the at least
one second lever arm at a second end of the at least one second
lever arm, the foot attaching portion capable of receiving at least
one foot of a user for the purpose of moving the at least one
second lever arm for leg exercises.
20. The exercise device of claim 19 wherein the foot attaching
portion comprises a flat surface mounted on the at least one second
lever arm, the foot attaching portion capable of receiving at least
one foot of the user and at least one foot receiving loop attached
to the flat surface.
21. The exercise device of claim 20 wherein the foot attaching
portion further comprises a pair of foot pedals attachable to the
foot attaching portion by a rotatable means having a tension means
for exercising the legs of the user in a bicycle pedaling
movement.
22. The exercise device of claim 19 wherein the tension means
between the desk surface and the at least one lever arm and between
the desk surface and the at least one second lever arm comprises a
tension means taken from a variety of tension means including a
spring means, a rubberized cord means, an air pressure means, an
air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and an oil cylinder.
23. The exercise device of claim 19 wherein the lever arms are
adjustable in length by a telescoping means.
Description
REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of patent application number
10/621,075, filed Jul. 15, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to office exercise
devices that can be used by a user while seated at a desk, and in
particular, to a hand and foot lever-arm rowing type exercise
device that is mounted in the foot space under a desk.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Many people appreciate the need to exercise regularly.
Unfortunately, busy business schedules often make it difficult to
incorporate a regular exercise schedule into a working week. An
exercise device that can be used while a person is working would
provide the benefit of exercise that can be achieved during working
hours.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,211, issued Sep. 15, 1998 to Berryhill,
shows an exercise device that is particularly adapted for use by
individuals while seated in a stationary chair. The inventive
exercise device employs a folding frame, which has attached bicycle
type pedals, a leg press bar, and resistance pulls. The bicycle
type pedals are attached to one side of the folding frame, the leg
press bar hangs from a horizontal bar on the opposite side of the
folding frame, and the resistance pulls are also attached to the
other side of the folding frame, opposite the bicycle type pedals.
By positioning the front of the exercise device in front of an
individual seated in a chair, pedaling exercises can be
accomplished.
[0007] U.S. patent application No. 20020137606, published Sep. 26,
2002 by Willis, puts forth a portable leg or arm powered exercise
device for a person that may include a seating pad permanently or
detachably affixed to a support base upon which one or more
resistance members are mounted for engagement by one or both feet
or hands of the user. Preferably the resistance members include
coil springs to provide the resistance and spring control guides to
prevent overly sharp angular bending of the coil springs. The
exercise device can be used while seated with the device placed
under a desk or table having limited vertical dimensions.
[0008] U.S. patent application No. 20020142898, published Oct. 3,
2002 by Willis, concerns an office chair and office desk
independently incorporating certain activity features. The chair
and desk arrangements allow the user to perform beneficial exercise
without leaving the chair or desk by utilizing movable exercise
arms attached to adjustable variable resistance bearing assemblies
attached to the chair seat or the desk to provide a full range of
omni-directional exercises.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,212, issued Sep. 15, 1998 to Nelson,
concerns a leg exerciser that includes a leg exercise device sized
to fit beneath the desk of a user, and an anchoring device attached
to the exercise device. The anchoring device is adapted to be
affixed to the user's chair. This allows the user to sit at his or
her desk in the chair and actuate the leg exerciser while doing
so.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,212, issued Jul. 17, 2001 to Vallone,
provides an adjustable resistance rehabilitation exercise device
for use by individuals without supervision to follow prescribed or
desired iterative cycles of therapeutic exercise regimens. The
adjustable resistance rehabilitation exercise device preferably
includes a pilot pulley assembly and a adjustable resistance
control spooler assembly, mounted and secured to individual `O`
clamp and/or channeled `U` clamp assemblies, interconnected by a
flexible cord, with bayonet clips secured at both ends of the cord,
and supplemented with hand grips, precision straight scale,
multi-purpose harness assembly and anchoring device. The `O` clamp
and channeled `U` clamp screw assemblies may be disassembled and
employed in either of two `O` clamp screw holes and also are
interchangeable between the `O` and Channeled `U` clamps. The pilot
pulley assembly is configured with a single grooved roller and
performs the primary function of establishing and maintaining a
tangential path for the flexible cord travel from the adjustable
resistance control spooler assembly to the pilot pulley roller to
minimize friction and resultant added exercise forces. The
adjustable resistance rehabilitation exercise device accessories
include hand grip(s) and a precision, spring style, straight scale
for calibrating and verifying prescribed and preset exercise forces
for individual therapeutic regimens. The channeled `U` clamp is
more ideally suited for attachment to flat board surfaces such as
found in physical therapy plinths, tables, desks and exercise/work
bench configurations.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,149, issued Nov. 13, 1984 to Weldon,
discloses an arm exercise device that has an exercising arm
adjustable to different lengths to accommodate forearms of
different lengths and attached to a bearing-supported lateral rod
which has an upright portion at the other end. Springs or other
tension devices are attached at one end to the lateral rod and, at
the other end, to a tension bar that is adjustable with respect to
the base. In one variation, the tension arm can be re-positioned
180 degrees from its initial position, thereby permitting use of
the device for exercising right or left arms. In a further
refinement, safety stops are provided which limit the movement of
the exercising arm, thereby preventing it from passing the upright
position. The base of the exercise machine is held in place on a
table or desk by table clamp braces.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,303, issued Nov. 3, 1992 to Smith,
indicates a compact and easily adjusted exercising device useful
for exercising the upper arms, shoulders, calves or the like. The
device has a base that may be supported on a desk, table or floor.
A pair of uprights support an upper bar over which one or more
rubber bands are placed. This bar is removable when it is desired
to change the rubber bands. A hollow lower bar is held between the
uprights and the one or more rubber bands pass over this bar. A
handle-supporting bar is then slid through vertical slots in the
uprights and through the center of the lower supporting bar. This
provides a light, easily adjusted exercising device that can be
easily used by the busy executive or even by bedridden persons.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,633, issued Sep. 3, 1991 to Rice,
provides chair that functions well as an ordinary office chair and
which can be used to perform exercises. The chair includes all the
attributes of a comfortable office chair, including a padded seat
with a seat bottom and seat back, and a pedestal with casters that
rollably support the seat on a chair pad lying behind an office
desk. The seat back has an upper part with extendable handles that
can be grasped to raise and lower it while a mechanism resists
vertical movement to provide exercise. The seat has armrests that
each have a moveable portion with extendable handles and a
resistance mechanism to provide exercise in raising and lowering
the armrests. The chair also has an extendable mechanism mounted
under the seat bottom and having a pair of foot handles that allow
the seated person to move the handles forward and back for further
exercise. All exercise mechanisms of the chair can be deployed,
used, and stowed while the person remains seated, so the person is
encouraged to conduct exercises during brief appropriate periods
such as when the person is talking on a speakerphone.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,649, issued Jun. 12, 1973 to Miller,
discloses an exercising arrangement that includes a chair with a
space beneath the seat portion. The exercise devices are mounted on
a platform beneath the seat and concealed by front and side panels.
A track comprises the mount for the platform, permitting it to be
extended in front of the seat portion where the exercise apparatus
is accessible for manipulation by a person sitting in the
chair.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,575, issued Nov. 10, 1998 to Holslag,
illustrates a portable exercise apparatus that includes a support
frame, which has a base mountable under a chair to hold the base in
a stationary position with a user seated on the chair and an
upright standard mounted upon the base. The apparatus also
comprises a shaft mounted to an upper end of the upright standard
and that has opposite ends extending from opposite sides thereof.
The apparatus further comprises a pair of arms disposed on opposite
sides of the upright standard with each arm at one end mounted to
one end of the shaft for rotatably mounting the arm to the upright
standard. The apparatus includes a pair of pedals each mounted to
the other end of each of the arms for engagement by a user to
create the force necessary to rotate the arms relative to the
upright standard. The apparatus also includes a resistance
generating and adjusting mechanism disposed on the ends of the
shaft at the opposite sides of the upright standard and engaged
with the one ends of the arms and being operable to generate and
selectively adjust a level of resistance to rotation of the pair of
arms relative to the upright standard in response to rotation of
the arms. The resistance generating and adjusting mechanism
includes at least one conical-shaped spring washer received over
one of the shaft ends and being respectively compressible and
expandable for correspondingly increasing and decreasing the level
of resistance to rotation of the arms by the user. The support
frame is attachable to a desk chair or the like.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,392, issued May 24, 1994 to Hawkins,
illustrates a pedal exerciser for performing stepper exercises. The
device includes a pair of pedal cranks, each crank driving one of a
pair of crankshafts that are coupled together by bevel gears such
that, when one pedal is forced to rotate downward, the other pedal
rises thereby providing reciprocating stair climbing motion.
Adjustable resistance to stepping is provided by a resistance pad
against either the idler bevel gear or one or both crankshafts. The
compact construction is amenable to positioning the exerciser under
a desk or table for a seated user. A detachable frame with handles
may be attached for an erect user.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,033, issued Aug. 7, 1973 to Rosenthal,
indicates a combination of a chair and an advanceable and
retractable pedaling device. The pedaling device is pivotally
secured to the bottom of a chair by a telescoping member. The
telescoping member with the pedaling device may be adjusted to a
desired angle for comfortable pedaling. The length of the
telescoping member may be adjusted to suit the length of the user's
legs. An adjustable counter-force device is provided to vary the
force desired applied by the user. The device may be locked in
place out of the way, under the chair.
[0018] While there have been a number of portable exercise devices
and exercise devices attachable to furniture, none provide a
lever-arm rowing type exerciser attached under a desk. The present
invention addresses the inadequacies of the prior art by providing
a simplified exercise device for use while seated in a chair. The
exercise device of the present invention is small, lightweight and
easily secured to any desk or cubicle. In addition, due to its
relatively small size and lightweight the exercise device of
present invention is easily stored.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] An object of the present invention is to provide a
simplified lever-arm rowing type exercise device that is easily
mounted under a desk for use while seated in a chair at the
desk.
[0020] A preferred object of the present invention is to provide a
pair of horizontal rowing arms, a pair of vertical push and pull
arms, and a bicycle pedal exerciser with handle bars for multiple
exercise means all attached and usable within an under-desk leg
space while seated at the desk.
[0021] A related object of the present invention is to provide oil
hydraulic pivot resisting wedges with oil and or liquid Silicon of
different viscosities and with built-in motion sensors to feed data
to a personal computer for monitoring performance and coordinating
video or other graphic images on the computer monitor related to
the exercise being performed and related to the level of
performance and effectiveness of the exercise on the user's health
and fitness level.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
lever-arm rowing type exercise device that is small, lightweight
and easily secured to any desk in the leg space under the desk.
[0023] One more object of the present invention is to provide an
exercise device for use with a desk or cubicle that is easily
stored when not in use by holding the lever arms flat against the
upper portion of the leg space with friction clamps.
[0024] A succeeding object of the present invention is to provide a
hand grip that has a turning means for wrist twisting exercises and
a squeeze handle for performing hand gripping exercises.
[0025] Once again another object of the present invention is to
provide a foot attaching portion for moving the second lever arm
for leg exercises, which further comprises a pair of foot pedals
for bicycling exercises.
[0026] In brief, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
has three pieces of exercise equipment including a pair of
horizontal rowing arms, a pair of vertical push and pull arms, and
a bicycle pedal exerciser with handle bars for multiple exercise
means all attached and usable within an under-desk leg space while
seated at the desk.
[0027] Oil hydraulic pivot resisting wedges with oil and or liquid
Silicon of different viscosities and with built-in motion sensors
feed data to a personal computer for monitoring performance and
coordinating video or other graphic images on the computer monitor
related to the exercise being performed and related to the level of
performance and effectiveness of the exercise on the user's health
and fitness level.
[0028] The under-desk exercise device of the present invention
further comprises oil hydraulic wedge-shaped pivots with oil and/or
liquid Silicon of different viscosities attached between the arms
and the underside of the desk to create an adjustable resistance to
the motion of each of the exercise devices.
[0029] The three exercise components of the present invention may
each be attached to the underside of the desk by double stick tape,
suction cups, threaded fasteners or each. attached to a plate which
is secured to the underside of the desk by brackets or threaded
fasteners or adhesive means.
[0030] An alternate embodiment provides a lever-arm rowing type
exercise device that is mountable in a leg space under a desk,
which comprises pivotally attached lever arms for exercising both
arms and legs. The lever arms may be one piece, telescopic, or two
pieces that are joined by a length adjustable threaded connection,
and are removably mountable to the desk surface by suction cups or
other attachment means that have pivot rods for pivotally mounting
the lever arms thereon. The lever arms are telescopically
adjustable in length and have a spring or tensioned rubberized
cords or an air cylinder or other pneumatic system connected
between the lever arm and the desk or a magnetic attraction or
repulsion system, which provide resistance while exercising. When
not in use the lever arms are easily stored and held flat against
the desk by friction clamps.
[0031] The first set of lever arms, which are to be used for arm
and upper body workout, include a hand grip that enables movement
of the lever arm by a user. The hand grip also has a means for
turning, as indicated by the arched two-headed arrow, relative to
the lever arm for wrist twisting exercises. The hand grip further
comprises a squeeze handle that is pivotally mounted to the hand
grip with a tension means, such as a spring hinge, therebetween for
performing hand gripping exercises.
[0032] The second lever arm, which is used for leg and lower body
workout, includes a foot attaching portion with foot receiving
loops for receiving at least one foot of a user for the purpose of
moving the second lever arm for leg exercises. The foot attaching
portion further comprises a pair of foot pedals, which are attached
to the side of the foot attaching portion by a rotatable means
having a tension means, such as a torsion knob, for alternately
exercising the legs of the user in a bicycle pedaling motion.
[0033] An advantage of the present invention is that it may be used
while seated at a desk.
[0034] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a variety of exercises for both arms and legs.
[0035] An additional advantage of the present invention is that it
may be held in place, out of the way when not in use.
[0036] One more advantage of the present invention is that it is
easily secured to any desk.
[0037] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is
small and lightweight.
[0038] Still another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a way to fit exercise into a busy schedule or a sedentary
lifestyle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0040] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the hand and foot
lever-arm rowing type exercise device of the present invention
mounted in the leg space under a desk;
[0041] FIG. 2 is a side elevational partial broken view showing a
seated exerciser using the device of FIG. 1.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0042] In FIGS. 1 and 2, a lever-arm rowing type exercise device 20
that is mountable in a leg space 41 under a desk 40, which
comprises preferably two adjustable lever arms 21A, attached to a
desk surface 42 within the leg space 41 of the desk 40 by a
pivotable means, such as a pivot rod hinge 23, at the first end of
each of the lever arms 21A with one lever arm 21A on each side. The
lever arms may be one piece, telescopic, or two pieces that are
joined by a length adjustable threaded connection.
[0043] The device 20 also comprises a tension means, such as a
spring means 22 or rubberized cord or an air pressure means 22A,
such as an air cylinder or other pneumatic device or a magnetic
means, which is attached between the lever arm 21A and the desk
surface 42 to create a resistance to moving the lever arm 21A for
the purpose of exercising by moving the lever arm 21A.
[0044] The device 20 further comprises a hand grip 18 that is
attached to the second end of the lever arm 21A. The hand grip 18
enables movement of the lever arm 21A by a user. The hand grip 18
has a means for turning, as indicated by the arched two-headed
arrow shown in FIG. 1, relative to the lever arm 21A for wrist
twisting exercises. The hand grip 18 also comprises a squeeze
handle 19, which is pivotally mounted to the hand grip 18 with a
tension means, such as a spring hinge 15, therebetween for
performing hand gripping exercises, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0045] The device 20 also comprises a second lever arm 21F,
preferably an adjustable single arm 21F centrally attached to the
desk surface 42 within the foot space 41 of the desk 40 by a
pivotable means 23 at the first end of the second lever arm 21F. A
tension means that comprises a spring means 22 or rubberized cord
or an air pressure means 22A, such as an air cylinder or other
pneumatic means or magnetic means is attached between the second
lever arm 21F and the desk surface 42 to create a resistance to
moving the second lever arm 21F for the purpose of exercising by
moving the second lever arm 21F. A foot attaching portion 27, which
comprises a flat surface 27 mounted on the second lever arm 21F,
attached to the second end of the second lever arm 21F by a hinged
bracket 16. The foot attaching portion 27 receives the feet of a
user for the purpose of moving the second lever arm 21F for leg
exercises, as shown in FIG. 2. The foot attaching portion 27, which
receives feet of the user has a pair of foot receiving loops 26
attached to the flat surface 27. The foot attaching portion 27
further comprises a pair of foot pedals 28 that attach to the side
of the foot attaching portion 27 by a rotatable means that has a
tension means, such as a torsion knob 29, for exercising the legs
of the user in a bicycle pedaling movement.
[0046] The lever arms 21A and 21F are adjustable in length by a
telescoping means and are connected together at the attachment
means 23 and 24 by two telescoping adjustable rods 17. The lever
arms 21A and 21F are removably mountable to the desk surface 42 by
suction cups 24 or other mounting means that have a pivot rod
connecting means 23 for pivotally mounting the lever arms 21A and
21F thereon, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0047] In practice, the lever-arm rowing type exercise device 20
would be mounted to the upper surface 42 of a leg space 41 under a
desk 40 by adhering the suction cups 24 for the lever arms 21A and
21F and the tension means 22 or 22A to the desk surface 42. Prior
to use the user would need to adjust the telescoping portions of
the lever arms 21A and 21F to the desired length.
[0048] To exercise the wrists the user would twist the hand grip
18, as indicated by the arched two-headed arrow, as shown in FIG.
1, relative to the lever arm 21A.
[0049] To perform hand gripping exercises, the user would
alternately grip and release the squeeze handle 19, which is
pivotally mounted to the hand grip 18 with a tension means, such as
a spring hinge 15 therebetween, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0050] To perform arm exercises the user would grasp the hand grips
18 and push or pull the lever arm 21A against the resistant force
of the spring 22 or rubberized cord or the air pressure means 22A,
such as an air cylinder or other pneumatic means, thereby
strengthening the arms, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0051] To perform leg exercises the user would insert their feet
into the foot receiving loops 26 attached to the flat surface 27
and push or pull the second lever arm 21F against the resistant
force of the tension means 22 or 22A, thereby strengthening the
legs, as shown in FIG. 2. The user could also exercise their legs
by placing their feet on the pedals 28, which are attached to the
sides of the flat surface 27, and moving the pedals 28 in a
bicycling motion.
[0052] When not in use the lever arms 21A and 21F may be easily
stored with the lever arms 21A and 21F held flat against the desk
surface 42 by friction clamps 25.
[0053] In FIGS. 3-5, a preferred embodiment of the exercise device
20 of the present invention comprises a pair of horizontal rowing
lever arms 21B, a pair of vertical lever-arms 21A, and a vertical
post 11 with rotatable bicycle-type pedals 28 all mountable in a
leg space 41 under a desk 40 or cubicle work surface. The lever
arms may be one piece, telescopic, or two pieces that are joined by
a length adjustable threaded connection.
[0054] The pair of rowing lever arms 21B is adapted to attach to an
under-desk surface 42 within an under-desk leg space 41 of a desk
40. Each of the pair of rowing lever arms 21B comprises a first end
attachable to a desk surface by a horizontal pivotable means,
preferably an oil filled hydraulic chamber, such as an oil
hydraulic resistance adjustable wedge-shaped pivot 12, with oil and
or liquid Silicon of different viscosities, mounted horizontally at
a back of the under-desk surface 41 acting as a pivot resistance
means, and a second end having a horizontal handle 18 aligned in a
proximal parallel alignment with a front of a desk 40, the handles
18 adapted to be grasped like oars of a boat and pulled toward a
user pivoting the rowing lever arms horizontally in a movement
simulating rowing a boat with oars in oarlocks.
[0055] Each of the pair of rowing lever arms 21B is attachable to
the under-desk surface 42 adjacent to one wall of an under-desk leg
space at a back of the leg space 41 and each of the handles 18
protrude horizontally out of a front of a desk adjacent to an
opposite wall of an under-desk leg space and each of the pair of
rowing lever arms is adapted to pivot away from a desk toward a
user seated in front of a desk.
[0056] The second pair of lever arms 21A is adapted to attach to an
under-desk surface 42 within a leg space 41 of a desk, each of the
second pair of lever arms comprising a first end attachable to a
desk surface by a vertical pivotable means, preferably an oil
hydraulic resistance adjustable wedge-shaped pivot 12, with oil
and/or liquid Silicon of different viscosities, mounted vertically
at a back of the under-desk surface 41, and a second end having a
handle 18 aligned in a proximal perpendicular alignment with a
front of a desk 40 sticking out of the desk toward a user seated at
the desk. The second pair of handles 18 are adapted to be grasped
and pushed forward and down and pulled upward and back, while the
oil hydraulic wedge-shaped pivot 12 creates a pivot resistance
means to create a resistance to pivoting the second pair of lever
arms for the purpose of exercising by pulling and pushing to pivot
the second pair of lever arms vertically under the desk 40 in the
under-desk leg space 41.
[0057] The vertical support 11 is attachable to the under-desk
surface 42 of the leg space 41 by a hinge or pivot means for moving
the vertical support forward at any desired angle for usage and
backward for storage. A handle bar 14 attached to the vertical
support 11 is adapted for grasping by a user to tilt the vertical
support 11 toward a user to a comfortable angle for pedaling and
away from the user for storage, and further adapted for grasping by
a user during pedaling for a seated exercise it the desk similar to
riding a bicycle. The pair of foot pedals 28 are attached to the
vertical support 11 by a rotatable means having a tension means for
exercising a user's legs in a bicycle pedaling movement.
[0058] The exercise device of the present invention further
comprises a motion sensing means built into each of the oil wedge
pivots 12 and bicycle pedal resistance and at least one cable 8
from the sensing means to a USB port or other link means 9 to a
personal computer 50 to transmit motion data to the computer, and a
software program in the computer to process the motion data and
translate it into health related information, such as the number of
calories burned during each exercise session, which information may
be viewed on the computer monitor 51 using graphics and words and
sound if desired and simulated images related to an exercise.
[0059] The lever arms 21A and 21B and oil wedge pivots 12 and the
vertical support 11 of the present invention are each attachable to
an underside of a desk by an attachment means taken from a list of
attachment means including double stick tape, suction cups,
threaded fasteners, directly or indirectly by an attaching plate 10
secured to an underside of a desk by brackets or threaded fasteners
or adhesive attachment means.
[0060] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
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