Mobile Fitness Center

This invention relates to mobile trailer for providing on-site training facilities, and more particularly to trailers that can be adapted to provide sufficient space for a number of training or workout stations.

More and more people are becoming more attentive to their physical well-being. Gym memberships have been increasing, and exercise is widely regarded as an essential ingredient in cardiac care. While many of us acknowledge the need to exercise, our busy schedules often make it difficult to go to a gymnasium. Accordingly, many of us miss the exercise that we need to stay fit.

The prior art is replete with numerous vehicles for transporting displays and providing exhibition areas for products and performance. Examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,958,874, 5,310,209, Re. 32,262, 4,689,924 and 5,280,985.

While these mobile expandable structures have been suggested for broadcasting field events, vacation use and merchandising, there is a limited availability of mobile units in the marketplace for providing convenient access to gym equipment for busy individuals. One such unit is called FITNESS-to-GO and is essentially a gym on wheels. This device is an actual truck with a small amount of workout equipment.

This invention provides mobile fitness centers which include one or more pieces of training equipment, for example, weights, stationary bicycles or rowing machines. These fitness centers include a trailer having top, bottom, front and back portions along with a pair of longitudinal sides. They further include at least one movable panel which can be adjusted from a first position forming part of one of the longitudinal sides, to a second position which forms an extended floor for providing more surface for exercise equipment and training.

The trailer of this invention can open up and become much larger than conventional portable U-Haul type units. In one embodiment, the floor space can be over 350 square feet which can provide room for a wide variety of exercise equipment. This device can greatly reduce the resistance of those whom have not committed to a regular regimen of exercise.

In further embodiments of this invention, a trailer is provided with a hinged side panel having one or more jacks for supporting the panel in the open position so as to provide a firmly supported extended floor. The extended floor area can also be protected by a removable roof cover supported by a pole support structure.

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention according to the practical application of the principals thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1: is a top perspective view of a preferred mobile fitness center of this invention;

FIG. 2: is a top perspective view of the mobile fitness center of FIG. 1 in which an expandable side panel has been opened to create greater floor space;

FIG. 3: is a top perspective view of the mobile fitness center of FIG. 1 showing a pair of expandable side panels covered in a canvas material, with a cut away portion of one of these covers exposing a roof support pole structure; and

FIG. 4: is a cross-sectional side view taken through line 4--4 of FIG. 3 showing various pieces of fitness equipment.

Mobile fitness centers having expandable side portions for greatly increasing the amount exercise space are provided by this invention. The centers can be conveniently transported to an office building or factory to provide easy access for clients and patients.

With respect to the figures and particularly FIGS. 1-3 thereof, there shown a preferred mobile fitness center 100. The fitness center 100 of the preferred embodiment includes a trailer 10 having generally rectangular configuration including a pair of longitudinal sides, top and bottom portions, and front and back portions. The trailer can be provided with heating and cooling equipment, and can be wired for stereo music. Accommodations usually provided in a home-like setting can be provided, such as a water supply, carpeting and windows.

In an important aspect of this invention, the trailer 10 comprises at least one expandable side panel 12. In this embodiment, the side panel 12 is connected by a hinge 13 to the bottom portion of the trailer. The side panel 12 has a first position which forms a portion of the one of the longitudinal sides, and a second portion which provides an extended floor portion for the trailer. In the first position, a safety bar 15 can be provided to secure the movable panel during travel. When the safety bar 15 is released, a spring winding mechanism 22 connected to a pair of cables permits the expandable side panel 12 to descend in a controlled manner. Jack means illustrated as a pair of hinged jacks 16 can be disposed on the expandable side panel 12 to support it from a ground surface when the side panel 12 is in the second position.

Preferably the side panel forms a floor surface 14 which is coplanar with the remaining floor surface in the trailer 10, but this is not a requirement. Alternatively, instead of a hinge 13, the side panel 12 can be selectively removable and provided with a locking mechanism similar to the sliding ramps often provided in moving vehicles, such as those having an extended tab and slot locking arrangement.

The mobile fitness center 100 of this invention further comprises roof support poles 20 which can be hinged to a peripheral region of the side panel 12 and opened to form a support structure for canvas covers 24 or plastic covers, as shown in FIG. 3. This will provide an extended and enclosed exercise area slightly over 350 square feet which can be heated or cooled to provide added comfort for patients and clients. An access doorway 29 can be included in the back portion of the trailer for easy entrance and egress to and from its enclosed area.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile fitness center of this invention should include at least one or more pieces of fitness equipment 28. In a preferred embodiment, the trailer 10 is equipped with four wheels 18 mounted to a pair of axles and suspended from the bottom portion of the trailer. A trailer hitch 26 is also provided which extends from a front portion of the trailer for mounting to the motor vehicle of suitable towing capacity.