Exercise Stand

Abstract

A platform type exercise stand, wherein a spring-loaded platform is coupled to a housing so when the user stands on the platform, the platform oscillates from side to side as well as vibrates so as to cause side-to-side movements of the user's torso. The combination of the side-to-side and vibrating movements causes the user to exercise his body sufficiently to lose weight along the waistline and the hip. The oscillating and vibrational motion is provided by a pair of electromagnetic motors mounted in the housing of the stand and coupled to the platform.

Description

This invention relates to an exercising stand for helping the user lose weight around the waist and the hips respectively.

More specifically, this invention relates to an exercise stand consisting of an oscillating platform which also vibrates so that the user, standing on the platform, can exercise in a side-by-side twisting motion resulting in loss of body weight along the hips, and waist, as well as improvement in posture.

Conventional exercise stands or devices generally consist of motor-driven machines utilizing linkages and pulleys to simulate exercises, such as running, walking, skiing and other common body movements. These conventional exercise machines are generally expensive and operate only when electrical power is supplied to the motor-driven system. Moreover, the conventional exercise devices have a large number of moving parts which become worn out so that the machine has a short life span.

The present invention provides an exercise stand which can be operated with or without electric power to permit the user to exercise his body in an oscillating twisting motion while being supported on the platform of the stand. The platform includes a first electromagnetic motor which is coupled to the stand to cause a side-by-side oscillating motion. The stand is mounted on four spaced-apart compression springs which aid the oscillating motion. A second electromagnetic motor is coupled to the bottom of the stand so as to vibrate the platform as it is oscillating. Both of these electromagnetic motors are connected to a timing device so that the user can time his exercise over a predetermined number of minutes or cycles of operation. Since the first and second electromagnetic motor drives are lightly coupled to the platform, the user can also apply his own twist motion to the platform without the aid of the electromagnetic motors. The compression springs which support the platform always restore the platform to its initial position, whether the platform is driven by the electromagnetic motors or by the body motion of the user.

It is therefore an object according to the present invention to provide an exercise stand having an oscillating and vibrating platform for helping the user lose weight.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide an exercise stand operated by two electromagnetic motors which can be programmed for a predetermined period of operation.

It is still another object according to the present invention to provide an exercise stand which is simple in design, easy to manufacture and reliable in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing which discloses the embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise stand according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 4--4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an electrically schematic diagram of the exercise stand of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown exercise stand 10 having a base or housing 11 constructed in the form of an open box onto which is supported a platform 12 by means of compression springs 13 adjacent to each of its corners. Secured at the approximate center of platform 12 is a coupling 20 which extends into the cavity of box-like housing 11. Coupling 20 preferably includes a rectangular bore in order to slidably receive and engage rectangular shaft 19. Shaft 19 is secured to linkage 27 which is pivotably coupled, by means of pivot 28, to armature 18 of a first electromagnetic motor 17. The end of motor 17 is connected on plate 21 which is mounted at its foot 22 to the floor of box 11. A second electromagnetic motor 14 has its armature 15 directed vertically for intermittent contact with pad 16 mounted on the underside of platform 12. Pad 16 is preferably arc-shaped as shown in detail in FIG. 3, so that armature 15 will be able to contact pad 16 during the side-by-side excursion of platform 12. Compression springs 13, mounted adjacent to the corners of platform 12 are preferably recessed in bores in both platform 12 and the corners of box 11 as shown in detail in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an electrical schematic diagram, whereby electrical power source 26 which is preferably 120 volts, 60 cycles A.C., is connected through switch 23 to electromagnetic motor 14 and through switch 24 through electromagnetic 17. A timer 25, having a hand operated pointer 33, permits the user to set a predetermined operating time for the running of motors 14 and 17. Timer 25 is connected to the return circuit to power source 26 for both motors 14 and 17. Timer 25 may be a mechanical or electronic clock which closes the circuit between power source 26 and motors 14 and 17 when hand operated pointer 33 is set to a predetermined minute setting.

When pointer 33 is set on timer 25 and switches 23 and 24 are closed, armature 18 of electromagnetic motor 17 will oscillate to move the end of linkage 27 in an oscillating motion. Linkage 27, which drives rectangular shaft 19, will cause coupling 20 and thus platform 12 to oscillate laterally as shown by the direction of arrow 31 in FIG. 1. Armature 15 of electromagnetic motor 14 will also oscillate in a vertical direction to intermittently contact pad 16 and thus provide vibration to platform 12 in a direction as shown by arrow 32 in FIG. 1. Thus, platform 12 will oscillate and vibrate simultaneously. By either opening switch 23 or 24, the vibration or oscillation can be interrupted during the time period set on the timer. Thus, it is possible to select only oscillation or vibration as desired. Compression springs 13 are designed to restore the platform to its initial condition after each swing of oscillation and each impulse of vibration, so that no additional springs are required by electromagnetic motors 14 and 17. Both electromagnetic motors are powered through electrical cord 29 and plug 30 to power source 26. If no source of power is available, the user can still utilize the exercise stand according to the invention by merely twisting his body on the platform and allowing the platform to vibrate in a side-by-side motion. Springs 13 will maintain a natural oscillation of the platform for short periods of time in order to aid the user in his exercise when the power is turned off. Electromagnetic motors 17 and 14 will offer very little resistance to the oscillation of platform 12 since they are lightly coupled to the platform, rather than being coupled through gear reduction linkages.

Housing 11 and platform 12 may be constructed from any well-known rigid materials, such as wood, plastic, and metal. Pad 16 is preferably constructed of neophrene or rubber for contact by armature 15.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise stand for applying vibrational and twist motions to a user's body comprising;

a housing having a hollow portion,

a plurality of compression springs disposed on one surface of said housing,

a platform having its bottom surface mounted on said plurality of compression springs for support over said housing, and a first motor drive mounted in said housing and coupled to said platform for applying lateral oscillation thereto, a second motor drive mounted within said housing and coupled to said platform for providing vertical vibration to said platform, said first and second motor drives including first and second electromagnetic motors having oscillating armatures.

2. The exercise stand as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising a second motor drive mounted within said housing and coupled to said platform for providing vertical vibration to said platform.

3. The exercise stand as recited in claim 2, wherein said first and second motor drives comprise first and second electromagnetic motors respectively each having oscillating armatures.

4. The exercise stand as recited in claim 1, wherein said first electromagnetic motor additionally comprises a linkage pivotably coupled to the armature of said motor, a drive shaft secured to said linkage and a slidable coupling mounted at the center of said platform and slidably engaging said drive shaft so that the oscillation of said armature transmitted through said linkage will oscillate said platform along a lateral plane.

5. The exercise stand as recited in claim 1, wherein said second electromagnetic motor includes a pad disposed on the bottom surface of said platform for alternate engagement with the armature of said second electromagnetic motor.

6. The exercise stand as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising a timer electrically connected to said first and second electromagnetic motors for interrupting the power of said motors after a predetermined time interval.

7. The exercise stand as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of springs comprise four springs, each mounted adjacent to a corner of said platform through a bore on the bottom of said platform and engaging the corresponding bore on the top surface of said housing.