Bed-mountable exercise apparatus

#Various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to exercise equipment. More specifically, the subject matter relates to portable exercise equipment to be used in conjunction with a bed.

#Home exercise is a regular activity practiced by many individuals using various exercise equipment to enable stretching and cardiovascular, weight, and strength training, and can be used for health and rehabilitation. While home exercise has enabled individuals to exercise more consistently and with greater frequency, a continuing restraint to many individuals has been the space requirements associated with home exercise equipment. Individuals who occupy small or crowded spaces, such as hospitals, apartments, retirement homes, and nursing homes, may not have proper room to conduct exercises correctly without risking injury.

#In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have exercise equipment that does not require significant additional space inside a home. Specifically, it would be highly desirable to have exercise equipment that used existing elements found in homes.

#In order to better understand various exemplary embodiments, reference is made to accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary bed assembly;

#FIG. 1B illustrates another view of an exemplary bed assembly;

#FIG. 1A shows an exemplary bed assembly 100, including a mattress 10, a support frame 20, reinforcement straps 30, buckles 40, and horizontal band 50 that includes exercise loops 52. In exemplary embodiments, the exercise assembly includes the horizontal band 50 along with a series of reinforcement straps 30 and buckles 40. In some embodiments, exercise bands (not shown) can hook onto or loop around the exercise loops 52.

#The mattress 10 can be, for example, a mattress of a standard size, such as a twin, twin extra long, full, queen, king, and California king mattress sizes. In some embodiments, the bed assembly 100 can include the mattress 10 without the support frame 20 (e.g., when the mattress is supported by the floor). The support frame 20 can be, for example, a frame with support beams or slats, or a spring box (i.e., “box spring”) that supports the mattress. In some embodiments, the exercise assembly can be placed between the mattress 10 and the support frame 20, as illustrated in the bed assembly 100. In other embodiments, the exercise assembly can be placed between the support frame 20 and the floor (not shown). In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, as well as all subsequent embodiments described herein, and other embodiments that one of skill in the art may contemplate based on the embodiments disclosed herein, horizontal band 50 of the exercise assembly can wrap around the circumference of either the mattress 10, or the support frame 20, or both the mattress 10 and the support frame 20 (e.g. the horizontal band 50 can be wide enough to wrap both the mattress 10 and support frame 20 or the horizontal band 50 can be in the form of a dual horizontal band system for purposes of enabling exercise loops to be provided at different heights from the floor).

#The exercise assembly can include the horizontal band 50, reinforcement straps 30, and buckles 40. In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, as well as all subsequent embodiments described herein, and other embodiments that one of skill in the art may contemplate based on the embodiments disclosed herein, the exercise assembly can include the horizontal band 50 with or without any reinforcement straps 30 or buckles 40. The horizontal band 50 can be a support band made of a strong material, such as elastic, weaved nylon, or such other applicable materials that would be known to a person of skill in the art. The material of the horizontal band 50 can wrap around the circumference of the mattress 10 and/or support frame 20. In some embodiments, the horizontal band 50 can be of the same length as the circumference of the mattress 10 and/or support frame 20 (e.g., the circumference of a twin, twin extra long, full, queen, king, or California king-sized mattress or support frame). When the horizontal band 50 has the same length as the circumference of the mattress 10 and/ or support frame 20, the horizontal band 50 can be made of a material like elastic to enable a user to place the horizontal band 50 around the circumference of the mattress 10 and/or support frame 20. The length of the horizontal band 50 can be sized to be equal to a standard mattress size (and/or corresponding support frame), such as twin, twin extra long, full, queen, king, and California king. In such instances, the horizontal band 50 fits snuggly against the mattress 10 and/ or support frame 20 with sufficient force to remain in place around the mattress 10 and/or support frame 20 when the user exerts force on the horizontal band 50 via exercise bands or other attached exercise equipment.