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US 6,113,522 AGranted
Exercise apparatus
AssigneeRobert N. Montgomery
InventorsAnthony Fontenot, Robert N. Montgomery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exercise apparatus for toning the mid-section and lower portion of the body, especially helpful for handicapped individuals who have marginal or only functional use of their lower extremities on an involuntary basis whereby a physically able person or a physically challenged person manipulates a pendulum bar, freely suspended from a semi-flexible member in a quarter circular oblique movement, while strapped to the apparatus in a seated position, and whereas the flexibility of the flexible member is predetermined by design or controlled hydraulically by the user.
Claims38
An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a) a base frame;
- b) a vertical member, having an end pivotally attached to said base frame;
- c) a clevis, pivotally attached to said vertical member at end apposite said base frame;
- d) an elongated, semi-flexible polymeric member having an end attached to said clevis;
- and
- e) a means attached to said semi-flexible polymeric member opposite said clevis for grasping by a user to distort said semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes.
3 more elements
An abdominal muscle toning apparatus comprising:
- a) a base frame;
- b) a seat secured to said base frame;
- c) a pivotal stanchion having one end pivotally attached to said base frame;
- d) a clevis pivotally attached to an end of said stanchion opposite said base frame;
- e) an elongated, polymeric member having one end attached to said clevis;
- and
- f) a means attached to said semi-flexible polymeric member opposite said clevis for grasping by a user to distort said semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes.
4 more elements
An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a) a base;
- b) a seat supported by said base;
- c) a vertical stanchion having upper and lower ends, said lower end pivotally attached to said base;
- d) an elongated, semi-flexible polymeric member having two ends, one end of which is pivotally secured to said said stanchion upper end;
- and
- e) a means attached perpendicularly to said elongated, semi-flexible polymeric member at an end opposite said vertical stanchion, for allowing a user to grasp and manipulate said semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes.
3 more elements
An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a) a base frame portion;
- b) a seat portion attached to said base frame;
- c) a vertical stanchion having upper and lower ends said lower end pivotally attached to said base frame, adjacent said seat;
- d) an elongated, unitized semi-flexible polymeric member attached at one end to said upper end of said vertical stanchion;
- e) a ball and socket joint attached to said elongated unitized semi-flexible polymeric member at an end opposite said stanchion;
- and
- f) a means attached to said ball and socket joint for allowing a user to grasp and manipulate said elongated semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes simultaneously.
4 more elements
An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a) a frame;
- b) an elongated semi-flexible polymeric member;
- c) a means for attaching said semi-flexible polymeric member to said frame;
- d) a means attached to said semi-flexible polymeric member for grasping by a user to manipulate said semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes simultaneously;
- and
- e) a means for hydraulically controlling rigidity of said semi-flexible polymeric member.
3 more elements
An exercise apparatus for use by physically challenged individuals, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a base frame having a plurality of legs;
- b) a seat, secured to said base frame;
- c) a seat belt attached to said seat;
- d) a vertical post member having upper and lower ends and forward and retracted positions located behind said seat, pivotally attached to said base frame;
- e) a unitized semi-flexible polymeric member attached to said upper end of said vertical post member in a manner whereby said polymeric member is positioned parallel to and above said seat;
- f) a means, attached to said semi-flexible polymeric member, located opposite said vertical post member for grasping by a user to manipulate said unitized semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes simultaneously;
- g) a biasing means for returning said vertical post to said retracted position;
- h) a variable damping means for controlling rate of retraction of said vertical post from said forward position to said retracted position;
- and
- i) a means for hydraulically controlling rigidity of said semi-flexible polymeric member in a manner which provides a predetermined resistive force against free movement of said semi-flexible polymeric member.
7 more elements
A method of exercising, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an exercise apparatus comprising:
- i) a frame;
- ii) an elongated semi-flexible polymeric member having distal and proximate ends;
- iii) a mounting means for attaching said distal end of said semi-flexible polymeric member to said frame;
- and
- iv) a means attached to said proximate end of said semi-flexible polymeric member opposite said mounting means for grasping by a user to manipulate said semi-flexible polymeric member;
- b) configuring said apparatus with a said semi-flexible polymeric member to meet rigidity and flexibility requirements for a specific exercise regimen according to material, flexibility, size and shape;
- and
- c) manipulating said semi-flexible polymeric member via a user, distorting and bending said semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes without the use of cables and free weights;
- d) hydraulically controlling the rigidity of said semi-flexible polymeric member.
7 more elements
A method of exercising, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an exercise apparatus comprising:
- i) a frame having a seat attached thereto;
- ii) an elongated semi-flexible polymeric member having distal and proximate ends;
- iii) a mounting means for rigidly attaching said distal end of said semi-flexible member to said frame;
- iv) a means attached to said proximate end of said semi-flexible polymeric member opposite said mounting means, for grasping by a user to bend and distort said semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes simultaneously;
- and
- v) a means for hydraulically controlling rigidity and flexibility of said semi-flexible member;
- b) adjusting said means for controlling rigidity and flexibility to meet rigidity and flexibility requirements for a specific exercise regimen;
- and
- c) manipulating said leverage means in a manner whereby said semi-flexible polymeric member is flexed and distorted in at least two planes without the use of cables and free weights.
7 more elements
A method of exercise comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an exercise apparatus comprising:
- i) a base frame;
- ii) an elongated unitized semi-flexible polymeric member;
- iii) a mounting means for rigidly attaching a portion of said semi-flexible polymeric member to said frame;
- iv) a means attached to said semi-flexible polmeric member opposite said mounting means, for grasping by a user, to bend and distort said semi-flexible polymeric member in at least two planes simultaneously;
- and
- v) a means for controlling rigidity of said semi-flexible polymeric member;
- b) pressurizing a plurality of passages disposed within said unitized semi-flexible polymeric member thereby rigidizing said polymeric member as necessary for a specific exercise regimen;
- and
- c) manipulating said semi-flexible polymeric member without the use of cables and free weights.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.