Exercise apparatus for leg muscles

[0002] Various methods and apparatus exist to strengthen leg muscles, especially the muscles of the calf. Generally these devices have a common feature, namely the raising of the heels from a flat surface. The exercise can be done while carrying a barbell or other free weights, or it can be carried out by lifting some weighted apparatus while lifting the heels from a standing position. The lifting of the heels to a position standing on the balls and toes of the feet necessarily creates a tendency to instability, especially if free weights are being carried and additional balance challenges are thereby presented. A safe and effective apparatus to allow the exercise of the calf muscles in a stable position would be a salutary development.

[0003] The invention disclosed provides an effective and safe to operate exercise apparatus for strengthening the muscles of the legs, particularly the calf muscles. A base is equipped with a rocking foot platform which is pivotable from front to rear about a central pivot axis oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the base. An upright support member is mounted on the base at an opposing end of the base from the foot platform. At the upper end of this fixed upright member is a hinge to which is mounted a lateral arm which terminates in a pair of shoulder engagement bars which are padded and separated such that a user's head and neck will fit between the separated shoulder engagement bars. The shoulder engagement bars are positioned above the foot platform. A weight arm is also hinged to the upright support member below the lateral arm so that it can pivot vertically in alignment with the lateral arm. At the end of the weight arm opposing its hinged connection to the upright support member there is a transverse weight support rod which is centered on the end of the weight arm. An adjustable link member interconnects the lateral arm and the weight arm. The link member is adjustable lengthwise and is hinged at each of its ends. The link member is hinged to the lateral arm about midway between the hinge of the lateral arm to the upright support and the shoulder engagement bars. The link member is hinged to the weight arm approximately one-third of the distance along the weight arm measured from its hinge mounting to the weight support member. Free weights can be added to the weight support rod on either side of the weight arm and preferably symmetrically. A weight arm support member is mounted to the base under the weight support to provide a lower rest support for the weight arm. An inclined stabilizer arm interconnects the weight arm support member and the upright support member.

[0004] In practice, the user may stand on the floor behind the foot platform on the base and place his head and neck between the shoulder engagement bars. The link member is then adjusted for the user's height such that the weight arm rests on the weight arm support member with the shoulder engagement bars resting on the user's shoulders. The user may then step forward onto the foot platform, raising the lateral arm and the weight arm as the user mounts the apparatus. As the user rocks back on the heels, the weight is lowered almost into contact with the weight arm support member. As the user rocks forward, the weight arm is raised as the user forces the lateral arm upward with his shoulders. Handles are mounted to either side of the lateral arm so that the user has a structure to grip while the exercise is done. Once the desired repetitions of the exercise have been completed, the user may crouch slightly to rest the weight arm on the weight arm support member and dismount the exercise apparatus.

[0005] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a stable exercise apparatus for safe exercise of the calf muscles of the legs.

[0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide an effective calf exercise apparatus which is adjustable for many different sizes of users.

[0007] It is also an object of the invention to provide calf exercise apparatus which can utilize free weights to provide appropriate loading to challenge the strength of the user.

[0008] It is a further object of the invention to provide an exercise apparatus which allows the user to rock his feet forward to raise the heels without lifting the heels off a support surface.

[0009] These and other objects of the invention will be better understood from examination of the detailed description and the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in a rest position.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in operation by a user shown in dashed lines, the invention shown loaded with a free weight which is also shown by dashed lines.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment similar to FIG. 2 but with the invention in another operative position with the user shown with the user's heels raised above the user's toes.

[0013] Referring to the figures, it is seen that the invention 2 comprises a base frame 4 to which is mounted a foot platform 6. Foot platform 6 is mounted pivotally to base frame 4 upon a transverse pivot axle 8. Pivot axle 8 is journally supported in bearings 10, 12 mounted upon opposing sides 14, 16 of base 4. Pivot axle 8 supports foot platform 6 about equidistant from front edge 20 and rear edge 18 of foot platform 6.

[0014] Spaced from foot platform 6 on base 4 is upright support member 22 which is fixed at its lower end 24 to base 4. Upright support member 22 is an elongate substantially vertical bar with an upper end 26 at which is pivotally mounted an elongate lateral arm 28 which extends over base 4. Lateral arm 28 pivots in a vertical plane around first hinge 30.

[0015] Free end 32 of lateral arm 28 is provided with a cross bar 34 perpendicularly mounted thereto, the axis of cross bar 34 being substantially horizontal. Mounted to cross bar 34 in a spaced apart relationship are shoulder engagement arms 36, 38 which each extend from cross bar 34 generally in parallel to the axis of lateral arm 28. Preferably shoulder engagement arms 36 and 38 are centered upon lateral arm 28 and lateral arm 28 is of sufficient length that shoulder engagement arm 36 and 38 will overlie foot platform 6. Shoulder engagement arms 36, 38 preferably comprise elongate spines 40 with compressible padded sleeves 42 annularly surrounding spines 40 along the lengths thereof. Spines 40 may extend through cross bar 34 and extend therefrom toward upright support member 22 providing co-parallel handgrips 44 and 46 spaced apart from lateral arm 28 at equal distances.

[0016] Mounted to upright support member 22 substantially below lateral arm 28 is weight arm 48 which is pivotally retained by second hinge 50 to upright support member 22. Weight arm 48 is pivotally vertically in a plane coincident with the plane of pivot of lateral arm 28. Mounted at or adjacent free end 52 of weight arm 48 is weight receiving rod 54 which is centered on weight arm 48 and substantially perpendicularly thereto.

[0017] Interconnecting lateral arm 28 and weight arm 48 is link member 56 which is elongate and selectively variable in length. Link member 56 is hingedly connected to lateral arm 28 by third hinge 58 and it is hingedly connected to weight arm 48 by fourth hinge 60. The motion of pivot of link member 56 is within the plane defined by lateral arm 28 and weight arm 48. Link member 56 is longitudinally extendable by sliding upper bar 62 within tube 64, securing them at a desired extension by use of pin 66 which is selectively insertable in one of holes 68 of upper bar 62.

[0018] Link member 56 is hinged to lateral arm 28 at approximately its midpoint while link member 56 is hinged to weight arm approximately one-third of the distance along weight arm 48 from second hinge 50 to weight receiving rod 54.

[0019] Disposed below and vertically aligned with weight arm 48 is weight arm rest support 70 which in the preferred embodiment comprises a generally vertical leg 72 connected to an inclined stabilizer bar 74 joined to upright support 22 at a position below second hinge 50. Preferably stabilizer bar 74 is disposed in parallel to weight arm 48 when weight arm 48 rests on weight arm rest support 70. Complementary resilient bumpers 76 and 78 may be mounted to weight arm rest support 70 and weight arm 48 respectively such that the resilient bumpers 76 and 78 will abut when weight arm 48 rests upon weight arm rest support 70. Leg 72 of weight arm rest support 70 is supported on a frame cross member 80 which interconnects sides 14 and 16 of base frame 4 generally midway therealong.

[0020] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the invention 2 in stages of operation which may be achieved by a user 5 exercising the user's legs by use of invention 2. In FIG. 2 it is seen that user 5 is standing on foot platform 6 with the user's heels 7 positioned lower than the user's toes 9. The shoulder engagement bars 36, 38 are resting upon the shoulders 11 of the user 5. The user 5 grasps handles 44, 46 with the user's hands 3. In this position, the calf muscles 13 of the user 5 are extended. An Olympic-style free weight 15 of circular plate shape has been placed on weight suspending rod 54.

[0021] In FIG. 3, the user 5 is shown with the user's feet 17 rocked forward with toes 9 lower than heels 7. The user has flexed his calf muscles 13 into contraction, lifting lateral arm 28 and thereby weight arm 48 and weight 15 in the process.

[0022] Many variations of the illustrated structure will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

[0023] It is to be understood that as the user moves his heels 7 from a position below his toes 9 through a position with heels 7 and toes 9 level, the moment of weight 15 on weight receiving rod 54 increases and subsequently decreases as the heels 7 rise above the toes 9 of user's feet 17 as foot platform 6 is rocked forward. Therefore, the resistance of weight 15 varies as the user 5 flexes his calves 13 from a weaker through a relatively stronger position to a relatively weaker position. The height of leg 72 and the height of third hinge 50 upon upright support member 22 are selected to allow weight receiving rod 54 to be disposed at a relatively low height to allow weight plates 15 to be added to weight receiving rod 54 without it becoming necessary to raise weights 15 above waist height. Hence, weight receiving rod 54 can be loaded without back strain or other danger of injury from raising weights overhead, for example.