US20080200319A1 - Exerciser with the legs being supported thereon by hanging in performing exercise - Google Patents

Abstract

An exerciser in one embodiment includes a base, a telescopic shank mechanism, a pivotal calf support disposed sufficiently above the ground by mounting on a top of the shank mechanism, and a foot support including a telescopic frame obliquely upwardly extending from one end of the calf support, and two cylindrical foot supporting members fixedly secured to both sides of the frame. The tops of the feet of an inverted person are urged against the foot supporting members, the backs of the calves and the knees are urged against the calf support, and the remaining portions of the body are disposed between the calf support and the reference ground in performing one form of exercise.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of Invention
• The invention relates to exercising machines and more particularly to an exerciser with the bent legs of a person supported on an upper portion of the exerciser by hanging in performing exercise.
• 2. Description of Related Art
• It is recognized that people spend more time in standing or sitting than lying during 24 hours of a day. Thus, certain portions of the body may bear more weight than other portions according to medical knowledge. Further, incorrect sitting positions may cause discomfort and even diseases after a long period of time. Thus, many physicians recommend persons excluding pregnant women or young children to stand upside down for some time a day as a form of exercise.
• Exercisers are well known in the art in which there are two types of exercisers related to upside down exercises as detailed below. The first one is a clamp like exerciser having a pair of hooks. The hooks are suspended from two bars sufficiently high above the ground and are adapted to fasten the feet of an inverted person. However, the load of the exercise concentrates on the feet and adjacent muscles. Thus, the feet are susceptible to being hurt.
• The second one is an inversion type exerciser widely employed in exercise clubs. The exerciser comprises a lever like bench. A person may lie on the bench with the feet being fastened. Next, the bench clockwise turns about 90 degrees to cause the head upside down. The second one is more advantageous than the first one. However, it limits the extent of exercise.
• The invention seeks to provide a novel type of exerciser with the bent legs of a person supported on an upper portion of the exerciser by hanging in performing exercise so that body weight does not concentrate on a small body portion during exercising and a sufficient degree of exercise can be executed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an exerciser comprising a calf support disposed a predetermined distance above a reference ground; and a foot support including a frame obliquely upwardly extending from one end of the calf support, and two cylindrical foot supporting members fixedly secured to both sides of the frame, wherein the tops of the feet of an inverted person are urged against the foot supporting members, the backs of the calves and the knees are urged against the calf support, and the remaining portions of the body are disposed between the calf support and the reference ground in performing exercise.
• In one aspect of the invention there are further provided a base rested on the reference ground, and a shank mechanism having an upper end adjustably secured to the calf support and a lower end secured onto the base.
• Preferably, an angle of the calves with respect to the thighs is about 90 degrees in performing exercise.
• Preferably, the foot support is telescopic for fitting different individuals with various leg lengths.
• In another aspect of the invention there are further provided two parallel substantially garble shaped tubes extending upward from rear portions of the base respectively. The hands can hold the garble shaped tubes in performing exercise.
• Preferably, the shank mechanism is telescopic for fitting different individuals with various heights.
• In a further aspect of the invention there is further provided a U-shaped handle bar having padded hand grips on both end portions, the handle bar having a midpoint fixedly secured to the shank mechanism. The provision of the handle bar aims at facilitating a person to use the exerciser or leave same after use as well as hold same in executing a body twisting exercise.
• Preferably, the telescopic shank mechanism is hydraulic.
• Preferably, the telescopic shank mechanism is pneumatic.
• Preferably, the telescopic shank mechanism is electrical.
• The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of exerciser according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 is an environmental view of the exerciser being used by an inverted person with his feet held on an upper portion of the exerciser in performing exercise;
• FIG. 3 is a side view in part section of the exerciser;
• FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the calf support, the foot support, and a portion of the shank mechanism;
• FIG. 5 is a view similar toFIG. 2 where the person is performing an exercise different from the one shown inFIG. 2; and
• FIG. 6 is an environmental view of the exerciser being used by a person with his feet bent and held on an upper portion of the exerciser in performing an exercise similar to sit-up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2 an exerciser in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The exerciser comprises abase10, ashank mechanism20, acalf support30, and afoot support40. Each component is discussed in detailed below.
• Thebase10 is supported on a flat surface, such as a floor. Thebase10 comprises twolong bars11 and12, ashort bar13 at both ends interconnecting thelong bars11 and12 proximate the front end together to define aU-shaped space14, and two substantially garble shapedtubes15 and16 extending upward from rear portions of thelong bars11 and12 respectively.
• Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4 in conjunction withFIGS. 1 and 2, theshank mechanism20 is obliquely upwardly extended from theshort bar13. Theshank mechanism20 comprises anouter support tube22 having a lower end fixed secured to a yoke (not numbered) on theshort bar13, an innersliding tube21 having a lower portion slidably received in thesupport tube22, thesliding tube21 having a plurality of spacedholes21aformed lengthwise along a lower portion, aset pin23 mounted on thesupport tube22 and adapted to insert into one of theholes21afor securing thetubes21 and22 together (i.e., height of thetelescopic shank mechanism20 is adjustable), aholed bracket25 secured to thesliding tube21 and being disposed above theset pin23, an upwardly extendingbolt26 together withnuts26aand26badjustably secured to the hole of thebracket25, and aU-shaped handle bar27 having padded hand grips on both end portions, thehandle bar27 having a midpoint fixedly secured to thesupport tube22. The provision of thehandle bar27 aims at facilitating a person to use the exerciser or leave same after use as well as hold same in executing a body twisting exercise.
• Thecalf support30 is mounted on a top of theshank mechanism20 and is above thespace14 by a sufficient height. In detail, thecalf support30 comprises an elongate underlying supportingmember31 having a pivot (not numbered) pivotably secured to an upper end of thesliding tube21 by apin24, and another member (not numbered) fixedly secured to an upper end of thebolt26; aplate33 secured onto the supportingmember31, and twoelongate padding members32 mounted on theplate33. By configuring as above, an angle of the calf support30 with respect to theshank mechanism20 is slightly adjustable.
• Thefoot support40 comprises a barshaped frame41 including asupport bar411 having a lower end fixedly secured to a front portion of the supportingmember31 and a plurality of spaced holes (not numbered) formed lengthwise along an upper portion, an outersliding tube412 slidably put on the upper portion of thesupport bar411, and aset pin413 mounted on thesliding tube412 and adapted to insert into one of the holes of thesupport bar411 for securing thesliding tube412 and thesupport bar411 together (i.e., length of thetelescopic frame41 is adjustable); and two spaced cylindricalfoot supporting members42 fixedly secured to both sides of theframe41 and each including a pad (e.g., foam)421 formed therearound.
• A first exercise may be performed by using the exerciser as shown inFIG. 2. The tops of the feet of a person are urged against lower portions of thefoot supporting members42. The backs of the calves and the knees are tightly rested on thepadding members32. The person is upside down with the hands on the waist and the elbows bent. Most importantly, the center of gravity of the person falls within thespace14.
• Referring toFIG. 5, a second exercise is performed by using the exerciser. The tops of the feet of an inverted person are urged against lower portions of thefoot supporting members42. The backs of the calves and the knees are tightly rested on thepadding members32. An angle of the calves with respect to the thighs is about 90 degrees. The person is suspended with the head proximate the ground. The weight of the person falls between thelong bars11 and12. The hands are adapted to reach thelong bars11 and12, the garble shapedtubes15 and16, thehandle bar27, and the ground. Advantageously, the body motion is relatively not limited as compared with that using the prior art exerciser. Thus, the exercising purpose can be achieved by using the exerciser of the invention.
• Referring toFIG. 6, a third exercise is performed by using the exerciser. The person is executing an exercise similar to the traditional sit-up with the calves tightly rested on thepadding members32 and the tops of the feet urged against front and lower portions of thefoot supporting members42.
• Alternatively, theshank mechanism20 may be eliminated by mounting thecalf support30 directly on the ground.
• Still alternatively, both thebase10 and theshank mechanism20 can be eliminated in other embodiments with thecalf support30 and thefoot support40 directly mounted on a wall and disposed sufficiently high above the ground.
• Still alternatively, theshank mechanism20 can be implemented as a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical one. Further, the hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical device for activating theshank mechanism20 is well known in the art. Thus, a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
• While the above embodiment discussing an angle of the calves with respect to the thighs about 90 degrees is only a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that an angle of the calves with respect to the thighs is in a range between 40 degrees to 145 degrees.
• To summarize, the invention provides an exerciser for exercising the whole body except the feet. Also, some components of the exerciser are telescopic so as to adjustably position to fit different individuals with various heights and weights.
• While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims (7)

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a calf support disposed a predetermined distance above a reference ground; and

a foot support including a frame obliquely upwardly extending from one end of the calf support, and two cylindrical foot supporting members fixedly secured to both sides of the frame,

wherein the tops of the feet of an inverted person are urged against the foot supporting members, the backs of the calves and the knees are urged against the calf support, and the remaining portions of the body are disposed between the calf support and the reference ground in performing exercise.

2. The exercise apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a shank mechanism having an upper end adjustably secured to the calf support and a lower end rested on the reference ground.

3. The exercise apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the shank mechanism comprises at least one member having an upper end adjustably secured to the calf support and a lower end rested on the reference ground.

4. The exercise apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the shank mechanism is telescopic.

5. The exercise apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a base rested on the reference ground, and a shank mechanism having an upper end adjustably secured to the calf support and a lower end secured onto the base.

6. The exercise apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the calf support comprises a pivotal member on an underside.

7. The exercise apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the frame is telescopic.

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