Variable unweighting and resistance training and stretching apparatus for use with a cardiovascular or other exercise device
OwnerRichard D. Solomoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for variably unweighting or unloading and performing resistance exercises and stretches while performing cardiovascular exercises on a cardiovascular exercise machine or other exercise device, including a plurality of exercise elements at different locations above the machine or device, the exercise elements being graspable individually or in a selected number and resiliently extended in a variety of directions for reducing forces applied against movable elements of the exercise machine or device and for performing a variety of resistance exercises and stretches.
Claims61
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A variable unloading and resistance exercise device for use by a person when performing a cardiovascular exercise on a cardiovascular exercise machine in which at least a portion of the person's weight is supported by at least one lower extremity of the person's body in moving contact with a weight bearing element of the machine, the device comprising:
- a support element and structure for supporting the support element above the weight bearing element of the exercise machine;
- and
- a plurality of resiliently yieldable exercise elements suspended from the support element at different locations over the weight bearing element, including at least one exercise element disposed at a first elevation so as to be located at least generally in front of the person and graspable in a hand of the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise, and at least one exercise element disposed at a second elevation lower than the first elevation so as to be located at least generally beside the person and graspable in a hand of the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise, such that when performing the cardiovascular exercise the person can alternatingly grasp the exercise elements disposed at the first and second elevations and resiliently extend them in a sufficient number of directions for performing different resistance exercises in different ways involving several muscle groups of the person, including downwardly for reducing the portion of the person's weight supported by the movement of the at least one lower extremity of the person's body in moving contact with the weight bearing element of the machine.
A variable unloading and resistance exercise and stretching device for use by a person when supported at a predetermined location by at least one weight supporting element of a cardiovascular exercise machine and performing a cardiovascular exercise by applying a force against the at least one weight supporting element of the machine, comprising:
- a support structure disposed adjacent to the predetermined location;
- and
- a plurality of resiliently yieldable exercise elements connected to and supported by the support structure at different locations adjacent to the predetermined location, including at least a first location beside the predetermined location so as to be beside the person, and at least a second location in a forwardly located region on the predetermined location so as to be generally in front of the person, respectively, each of the exercise elements including at least one portion which when the exercise element is in an initial state is positioned to be held by the person and displaced by application of a force there against in a plurality of directions for resiliently elongating the exercise element from the initial state to an elongated state so as to reduce the force applied by the person against the at least one weight supporting element and for performing a resistance exercise that is different from the resistance exercises performed when the exercise elements at the other position are elongated.
A cardiovascular and variable unloading and resistance exercise device, comprising:
- at least one weight bearing element for supporting at least one lower extremity of the person's body for movement for performing a cardiovascular exercise;
- a support element and structure for supporting the support element over the weight bearing element;
- and
- a plurality of elongate, flexible resiliently yieldable exercise elements suspended from the support element, including first exercise elements positioned so as to be located adjacent to opposite sides of the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise, second exercise elements positioned so as to be located in front of the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise, and third exercise elements positioned so as to be located above the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise, such that any of the first, second and third exercise elements can be grasped in a hand of the person and alternatingly resiliently extended and retracted for performing a variety of resistance exercises while performing the cardiovascular exercise, at least some of the exercise elements being extendable downwardly for reducing the portion of the person's weight supported by the weight bearing element.
A method for variably unloading and performing resistance exercises and stretches while exercising on a cardiovascular exercise device including at least one weight bearing element for supporting at least one lower extremity of the person's body for movement for performing a cardiovascular exercise, comprising steps of:
- providing a support element and structure for supporting the support element over the weight bearing element;
- providing a plurality of elongate, flexible resiliently yieldable exercise elements suspended from the support element, including first exercise elements positioned so as to be located adjacent to opposite sides of the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise, and second exercise elements positioned so as to be located in front of the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise;
- and
- grasping and holding at least one of the first exercise elements in a first hand and grasping at least one of the second exercise elements in a second hand and alternatingly resiliently extending and retracting the first and second exercise elements in a variety of directions for performing a variety of resistance exercises.
A variable unloading and resistance exercise and stretching device for use by a person when supported at a predetermined location by at least one weight supporting element of a cardiovascular exercise machine and performing a cardiovascular exercise by applying a force against the at least one weight supporting element of the machine, comprising:
- a support structure disposed adjacent to the predetermined location;
- and
- a plurality of resiliently yieldable exercise elements connected to and supported by the support structure at different locations adjacent to the predetermined location, including at least a first location beside the predetermined location so as to be beside the person, and at least a second location in a forwardly located region of the predetermined location so as to be generally in front of the person, respectively, each of the exercise elements including at least one portion which when the exercise element is in an initial state is positioned to be held by the person and displaced by application of a force there against in a plurality of directions for resiliently elongating the exercise element from the initial state to an elongated state so as to reduce the force applied by the person against the at least one weight supporting element and for performing a resistance exercise that is different from the resistance exercises performed when at least one of the exercise elements at the other position is elongated, and wherein the support structure comprises a frame including at least one member supported thereby over the predetermined location, the frame being collapsibly foldable into a compacted shape and size.
The exercise device of 103, wherein at least some of the exercise elements comprise downwardly extending elastic cords or straps.
A variable unloading and resistance exercise device, comprising:
- a support element and structure for supporting the support element over the weight bearing element;
- and
- a plurality of elongate, flexible resiliently yieldable exercise elements suspended from the support element, including first exercise elements positioned so as to be located adjacent to opposite sides of a person, and second exercise elements positioned so as to be located above the person, such that either of the first or second exercise elements can be grasped in a hand of the person and alternatingly resiliently extended and retracted for performing a variety of resistance exercises, at least some of the exercise elements being extendable downwardly for reducing the portion of the person's weight supported by at least one lower extremity of the person's body.
A variable unloading and resistance exercise device for use by a person comprising:
- a support structure, the support structure supporting and holding a plurality of resiliently biasable exercise elements in different positions generally beside the person using the device, where the exercise elements comprise a plurality of resiliently elongatable elastic cords extending forwardly and rearwardly between legs and on opposite sides of the person using the device such that the cords are one both sides of the body of the person, where the person may grasp one or more cords and elongate the cords, and where the person, when downwardly elongating the cords, correspondingly reduces the weight load exerted by the person on the surface on which the person is otherwise bringing to bear that person's weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.