Transformable exercise system

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/533,512, filed Jan. 2, 2004. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] People who exercise in their homes, apartments or rooms sometimes do not have a lot of space for storing exercise equipment. Exercise benches are commonly used in fitness training but can require significant space.

[0003] The present invention provides a transformable exercise system which can be used as an item of furniture, such as a coffee table or a chest, and then be converted for use as an exercise bench with an aerobic step.

[0004] In particular embodiments, the transformable exercise system can include a horizontal surface supported at opposite ends by legs, and defining a space below the horizontal surface and between the legs. The horizontal surface can be at a height suitable for use as a furniture item and as an exercise bench. A storage drawer can be positioned in the space between the legs. The storage drawer can be dimensioned to closely fit within the space and has a removable cover that is configured to also serve as an aerobic step.

[0005] In some embodiments, the horizontal surface can be rectangular in shape and can have a padded top surface. There can be two legs of pedestal construction having a rectangular cross section. The storage drawer can have rollers for pulling the drawer out of the space. The rollers can be on the bottom of the drawer. The drawer can have a first handle formed by a first cut out in a first side wall of the drawer and can have a second handle formed by a second cut out on a second side wall that is opposite to the first side wall for allowing the drawer to be pulled from the space from opposite sides of the exercise system. The removable cover can have a non-skid top surface, non-skid bottom surfaces on corner posts, and have handles formed by cut outs into opposite side walls.

[0006] The present invention can also include a method of transforming a transformable exercise system having a horizontal surface supported at opposite ends by legs, in defining a space below the horizontal surface and between the legs. The horizontal surface can be at a height suitable for use as a furniture item and as an exercise bench. The storage drawer can be positioned in the space between the legs. The storage drawer can be dimensioned to closely fit within the space and have a removable cover. The storage drawer can be pulled from the space and the removable cover can be removed and placed on the ground where the cover is configured to serve as an aerobic step.

[0013] FIGS. 1-4 depict one embodiment of the transformable exercise item or system 20 of the present invention. The system 20 can have a main or first furniture portion such as a table/bench 18, and a second furniture portion such as a storage drawer 22 which closely fits within a receiving space or compartment 16 defined below the top 1 and between the legs 2 of furniture portion 18. The top 1 can be generally rectangular in shape and is strong enough to support the weight of a person 30 (FIG. 3) and is at a height that is suitable for use both as an exercise bench, or a furniture item such as a coffee table, sitting bench, chest, etc. In some instances, the top 1 can have a padded top surface 1a. The legs 2 can be pedestal or post-type legs having a hollow rectangular cross section which are secured to the top 1 at opposite longitudinal ends of the top 1, and are sturdy enough to support the weight and horizontal forces when a person 30 sits on the top 1. The legs 2 can include non-skid pads 10, such as rubber, on the bottom.

[0014] The storage drawer 22 can be removable and can have a bottom drawer portion 22a and a top cover 22b that can be configured to form an aerobic step. The bottom drawer portion 22a can have four side walls 3 and a bottom 6 that is strong enough to support exercise weights. A series of wheels 4 can be included on the bottom of drawer portion 22a to allow drawer portion 22a to roll and be easily pulled out of the space 16 from under the furniture portion 18. The two opposed outward sides 3 of the bottom drawer portion 22a can have handles 12. In the embodiment shown, the handles 12 can be arched cut outs in the side walls 3. Alternatively, other suitably shaped cut outs can be used as handles or handle hardware can be secured to the side walls 3. In some embodiments, the wheels 4 can be omitted or the bottom drawer portion 22a can be movably secured to the legs 2 by sliding or rolling drawer hardware. Furthermore, in view that the bottom drawer portion 22a can serve as a storage bin, the bottom 6 and side walls 3 can be permanently secured between the legs 2 as a fixed storage bin.

[0015] The top cover 22b fits on top of the bottom drawer portion 22a and can engage tabs 24 (FIG. 1) extending upwardly from the bottom drawer portion 22a for centering the top cover 22b on the bottom drawer portion 22a. The top cover 22b can be generally hollow and can have corner posts 26 (FIG. 5) with non-skid surfaces 10 extending from the bottom 8. The corner posts 26 can also help center the top cover 22b on the bottom drawer portion 22a. The top cover 22b has side walls 7 and a top 5 which are sturdy enough for a person 30 to step on the top cover 22b with minimal deflection during step aerobics. A center brace 28 can extend across the interior of the top cover 22b against the underside of the top 5 to provide additional strength and stiffness. The top 5 can have a non-skid upper surface, such as rubber, which is suitable for step aerobics. Two opposite side walls 7 such as on the longitudinal ends of the top cover 22b can have handles 14, which can be cut outs as shown, or hardware. The top cover 22b can be of a height that is suitable for step aerobics. Additionally, the top cover 22b can also be used as a step while on top of the bottom drawer portion 22a for extra height. In such a case, the wheels 4 are of the type that are lockable in place, or can be omitted. Alternatively, one or more extensions can be provided for varying the height of top cover 22b when used as an aerobic step.

[0016] In one embodiment, the system can be made primarily out of wood. The top 1 of the furniture portion 18 can be at a height of about 14-15 inches, and can be about 13-14 inches wide and about 36-37 inches long. The edges of the top 1 can be formed with a decorative profile. The foot print of the legs 2 can be about 12-13 inches long by about 5 inches wide. In some embodiments, the legs 2 can be formed with shelves for additional storage. The space 16 can be about 25 inches long and about 14 inches high. The bottom drawer portion 22a can be about 24.75 inches long (or about ¼ inch shorter than space 16), about 12-13 inches wide, and about 7-8 inches high. The wheels 4 can be made of hard rubber. The cut outs for the handles 12 can be arch-shaped about 8-9 inches long and about 1-2 inches high. The top cover 22b can have the same length and width dimensions as the bottom drawer portion 22a and can be about 5-6 inches high. The total height of the storage drawer can be about ½ inch less than the height of the space 16. The cut outs for the handles 14 can be arch-shaped about 6-7 inches long and about 1-2 inches high. Although wood is a common material for system 20, other suitable materials can be employed, such as metals (for example, aluminum and steel), or plastics, or combinations of wood, metal, and plastics.

[0017] When not being used by a person 30 as an exercise device, the system 20 can be stored in plain sight to look like a coffee table, a sitting bench, a hope chest, or some other piece of furniture. Referring to FIG. 2, the system 20 can be neatly assembled together. The top cover 22b fits snugly onto the top of the bottom drawer portion 22a. This combination can then be rolled under the furniture portion 18. With the storage drawer 22 fitting closely within space 16, the combination of the furniture portion 18 and the storage drawer 22 can have the appearance of being a single unit. The side walls 3 of the bottom drawer portion 22a can extend downwardly to substantially hide the wheels 4. The storage drawer 22 can be used to store complimentary exercise equipment such as video tapes, hand weights, etc.

[0018] When being used as an exercise device, the person 30 can lie down to perform varying exercise routines. Referring to FIG. 3, the top 1 of the furniture portion 18 can support the person's 30 back. The legs 2 do not move relative to the bench top 1. The person 30 can also sit on the top 1 while performing other exercise routines. The top cover 22b can be used as a step to perform exercise routines such as step aerobics.

[0019] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.

[0020] For example, although particular dimensions have been given for one embodiment, it is understood that the dimensions can vary depending upon the application at hand. In addition, furniture portion 18 and storage drawer 22 can be arranged in a room as separate furniture items. For example, furniture item 18 can be arranged as a table, bench, desk, etc., and the storage drawer 22 can be separately arranged as a rollout table, sitting bench, ottoman, chest, etc. on wheels. In some instances, furniture portion 18 can also be on wheels. In some embodiments, the storage drawer 22 can be used as the exercise bench. In such embodiments, the furniture item 18 does not have to be used as an exercise bench and can have increased height and/or width.