Reciprocal inhibition body toner apparatus

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/187,514 filed on Jul. 22, 2005. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/187,514 is abandoned.

[0002] The invention relates to apparatus for use in exercising the upper and lower body muscles, ligaments and tendons. The new apparatus allows exercising using the principles of reciprocal inhibition, which may occur when a muscle contracts during a desired motion thereby forcing an opposite muscle group to relax, and other exercising regimen.

[0003] There may be currently existing apparatus for exercising the human body. These exercise apparatus may have leg exercising elements with provision for body twisting, arm exercising or perhaps sitting on a portion of the apparatus to perform certain exercises. The new apparatus combines a simple improved body exercise structure with handle elements, a seat and alternatively positionable elastic force elements for exercise use.

[0004] The present invention is directed to apparatus for human exercise. A track assembly may have two bottom cross members attached approximately perpendicular thereto and extending approximately horizontally from each side of the track assembly. Two vertical frame members may be attached to a first end of each of the bottom cross members. A handle may be attached at an upper end of each of the vertical frame members. A seat may be disposed in an upper portion of the two vertical frame members for seating to face a second end of the bottom cross member.

[0005] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

[0019] The following detailed description represents the best currently contemplated modes for carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the reciprocal inhibition body toner apparatus 10 may have a track assembly 12 with two bottom cross members 14 attached approximately perpendicular thereto and extending approximately horizontal from each side of the track assembly 12. There may be two vertical frame members 16 attached to a first end 18 of the cross members 14. A handle 20 may be attached at an upper end 22 of each vertical frame member 16. A second end 24 of the cross members 14 may be connected by a bridging cross member 26 that may have a curved form or shape.

[0021] There may be a grip bar 28 that may be approximately oval in shape that may be attached to the bottom cross members 14 adjacent the second ends 24. There may be a seat 30 attached to the handle 20, to the vertical frame members 16 or to grip bar 28 that may be oriented for a user to sit facing the grip bar 28 or the vertical frame members 16. The grip bar 28 may extend generally upwardly from the bottom cross members 14 for gripping by a user when exercising using the track assembly 12 as well as when seated in the seat 30. The grip bar 28 may also be used to perform push-ups, mountain climbing exercises, step exercises as well as other exercises requiring an elevated position. There may be a seat support member 120 attached to and extending downwardly from the handle 20 between the vertical frame members 16. The seat 30 may have a seat collar clamp 122 attached to the back and the seat collar clamp 122 may be slidably disposed on the seat support member 120 to allow vertical adjustment of the seat 30 elevation. There may be a clamp lever 124 engaged with the seat collar clamp 122 to allow tightening and loosening of the seat collar clamp 122 on the seat support member 120.

[0022] A user may exercise by placing their feet on the foot pad assembly 50 of the track assembly 12 and griping the handle 20 for balance or other support in moving the torso, legs and feet. There may be one or more pin apertures 38 in rail channel 46 for insertion of a track pin 36 to stop the outward motion of the foot pad assembly 50. The handle 20 may be a tubular structure attached to be oriented parallel to the track assembly 12. The user may also use the grip bar 28 for support in exercising using the track assembly 12. Further, a user may use the seat 20, track assembly 12, handle 20 and grip bar 28 in various combinations for exercise. Examples of exercises may include: a person sitting in the seat 30 when attached to grip bar 28, bending over and placing a hand on each of the foot pad assemblies 50, and exercising against the force of the elastic force element 64 to exercise the arms and upper body; and sitting in the seat 30 when attached to the handle 20, placing a foot on each of the foot pad assemblies 50, and exercising against the force of the elastic force element 64.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13, the track assembly 12 may have a connector element 40 of generally rectangular shape that may have opposed recesses 42 for slidable receipt of an end of a track member 44. The track members 44 may have the form of a C channel having a rail channel 46 on each side thereof. The track members 44 may be inserted in the connector element 40 for a friction engagement. While the connector element 40 may be described and illustrated as generally rectangular in shape, other connector element configurations or forms may be used. For example, the track members 44 may be slidably inserted in other exercise elements or apparatus that have the provision of recesses 42 of proper shape for receipt of the track member ends 45. The track members 44 may be connected in a more universal exercise apparatus. The end of a track member 44 may also be attached to the connector element 40 by other methods. For example, recesses 42 may be covered with a plate 116 and a flange 115 may be disposed for receipt of a flange 114 attached to the end plates 48. The track members 44 may have flanges 114 on the end plate 48 at each end 45, reference FIG. 16. The track members 44 may also be attached to the plate 116 by fasteners, for example, screws, bolts and the like.

[0024] A footpad assembly 50 may have a wheeled platform 52 with wheels 54 for rolling engagement with rail channels 46. There may be a footpad 56 rotatably attached to the top of the wheeled platform 52. An extension arm 58 may be attached to the wheeled platform 52 that may extend horizontal outwardly therefrom and may have an elastic support connector 60 at a distal end 62.

[0025] The wheels 54 may be inserted in rail channels 46 with the elastic support connector 60 disposed to extend outwardly relative to the connector element 40. An elastic force element 64 may be attached to the elastic support connector 60 at a proximal end 65 and to an elastic connector 49 of an end plate 48. The elastic force element 64 that may be a spring 110 with a spring hook 112 at each end or other suitable element may urge the footpad assembly 50 toward the connector element 40. Depending on the type of elastic force element 64 used in the apparatus 10, the length of the extension arm 58 may be varied for proper exercise support, or the extension arm 58 may not be necessary and the elastic force element 64 may be attached to the wheeled platform 52. There may be a platform end plate 130 attached to the wheeled platform 52 at each end and to the wheel side plates 134. The platform end plates 130 may have a hook 132 attached in position for engagement with an elastic force element 64. Depending on the amount of force desired for an exercise, various springs may be used with the track assembly 12.

[0026] The track member 44 may have end plates 48 with T slots 49 for retaining a proximal or second end 65 of the elastic force element 64. The proximal end 65 may have an eye element, T connector, hook or other device for insertion and retention in the T slot 49. The end plate 48 may also have hooks 132 rather than slots 49 for retaining an end of an elastic force element 64. The hook 132 may also be a closed ring or loop for receipt of a hook 132 on an elastic force element 64. There may be a foot pad stop 66 that may have a slot 68 for disposing the foot pad stop 66 on the elastic force element 64. The foot pad stop 66 may have a longitudinal length designed to stop the foot pad assembly 50 at a distance from the end plate 48 or the connector element 40 to cause the elastic force element 64 to be maintained at a partially extended condition.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 9 through 12, the track members 44 may have a T slot 49 or a hook 132 or ring in the end plates 48 at each end of the track members 44. The elastic force element 64 may then be attached at one end to the elastic support connector 60, hook 132 or ring and at a second end in a first position to the end plate adjacent the connector element 40 and in a second position to the end plate opposite the connector element 40. When the elastic force elements 64 may be in the second position a user may rotate the foot pad 56 to exercise by moving their legs from an extended position to draw them together as in FIG. 9. One foot pad assembly 50 may be placed in a fixed position by use of pin aperture 38 and track pin 36. The user may then exercise by moving the second foot pad assembly 50 toward the fixed first foot pad assembly 50 as in FIG. 10.

[0028] The reciprocal inhibition body toner apparatus 10 may also be used to exercise the upper body of a user. When the elastic force elements 64 may be in the first position a user may kneel next to the track assembly 12 and place their hands on the foot pads 56 to force the foot pads 56 apart as in FIG. 11. The elastic force elements 64 may be placed in the second position and a user may then exercise by pulling or forcing the foot pads 56 together as in FIG. 12. Elastic force elements 64 may be attached in the first position and the second position simultaneously when it may be desired to have resistive force for exercise in both directions when using the track assembly 12.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 8 the bottom cross member 14 may have tubular elements 70 attached to connector element 40. There may be an L shaped vertical support member 74 that may be slidably inserted at a lower end 76 into a first end 72 of a tubular element 70. Alternatively, the vertical support member 74 may have vertical frame members 16 attached to the two bottom cross members 14 that may be inserted at a lower end 76 in the first ends 72 of the tubular elements 70. There may be a front frame member 78 with two horizontal members 80 connected at a first end by the bridging cross member 26. The horizontal members 80 may be slidably inserted at a second end 73 into a tubular element 70. This embodiment may allow ease of assembly and disassembly of an exercise apparatus for storage, for transport or for use of parts of the apparatus as components with other exercise equipment. A tubular member or element may have a circular, oval, rectangular, triangular or other geometric cross section shape having closed walls and hollow interior.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, there may be pedestals or legs 32 attached to vertical frame members 16 and bridging cross member 26 to aid in stability of the exercise apparatus 10. The legs 32 may be disposed downwardly to touch a floor or other support structure on which the exercise apparatus 10 may be positioned.

[0031] There may be an exercise grip bar 90 of generally semicircular, irregular shape and of tubular construction that may be attached to the second end 24 of the cross members 14 and to the handle 20. The attachment at the handle 20 may place that portion of the exercise grip bar 90 at approximately a user's shoulder height. As the exercise grip bar 90 extends toward the second end 24 it may curve away from the vertical plane of the bottom cross members 14 and down toward the horizontal plane of the bottom cross members 14 such that the exercise grip bar 90 is approximately the height of the user's knees before turning downward to attach to the second end 24.

[0032] The vertical frame members 16 and bottom cross members 14 may be rotationally connected with a latching element at first end 18 to allow folding of the vertical frame members 16 onto the center portion of the track assembly 12. The grip bar 28 may also be rotationally connected with a latching element at location 25 of bottom cross members 14. These rotational connection may allow collapsing of the apparatus 10 for storage or other purposes.

[0033] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to the illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.