Exercise devices – Stretching
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-24
2001-05-08
Donnelly, Jerome (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Stretching
C482S148000, C482S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06228005
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to exercise and stretching equipment and, in particular, to a multiple station exercise and stretching apparatus which allows the user, regardless of the exercise or stretching motion being performed, to always stretch in a preferred ergonomic and physiologically acceptable fashion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a person is participating in a sport it is desirable to perform warm-up exercises to help stretch the muscles which will be used in that sport. In order to fully stretch those muscles, however, the person must position his or her body in a particular manner in order to correctly stretch the muscles being used. In a sport such as golf, many muscle groups must be stretched and warmed-up in order to perform the golf swing in a reasonable manner. Until the present invention, the participant in a sport and in particular a golfer, must rely on their own knowledge of stretching in order to perform any warm-up exercises before attempting a golf swing. Thus, many golfers simply use the golf club to stretch overhead or behind one's back or neck in order to loosen up before taking a golf swing. However, the dynamics and mechanics of a golf swing are particularly complex and involve the entire body.
Until the present invention, there has not been a multiple station exercise and stretching apparatus which allows a golfer to perform the necessary stretching and warm-up steps in order to sufficiently carry out and perform a reasonable golf swing or to engage in other exercises or sports. In order to perform a reasonable stretching of the necessary muscles, a person needs to stretch muscles using the greatest resistance. However, a person usually stretches the muscles using the weakest resistance such that the necessary muscle groups have not been adequately stretched.
Further, various muscle groups need to be simultaneously stretched to prepare the participant's body for a reasonable golf swing. This is especially important since a golf swing involves most muscles in the body not just the muscles of the back and hips.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved multiple station exercising and stretching apparatus. Each station comprises a piece of stretching or exercise equipment such that various types of stretching exercises can be performed at each station.
In a preferred embodiment, the stations are adjacent each other so that the user stretches at the first station, then moves to the second station, and so on. A primary feature of the present invention is that the multiple station stretching apparatus allows a person to safely stretch muscles in a progressive manner. Each muscle group is warmed-up and stretched and, in turn, those stretched muscle groups are used to aid in stretching the subsequent muscle group. Each stretching exercise builds on the previous exercise so that all the muscles are stretched in a cumulative manner.
A multiple station exercise and stretching apparatus described herein has six stations. However, it should be understood that other embodiments (for example, an apparatus to be used with a sport other than golf) can have different stations or a different combination of stations. A first exercise station stretches the ankle, foot and calf muscles. The first exercise station has a plurality of spaced apart horizontal bars for the user to grasp while leaning forward and keeping the feet on the ground. A second exercise station stretches the previous muscles and also stretches the hip flexor muscles. The second exercise station includes a foot support having a generally planar middle support portion, a first side angled support portion which is positioned at an angle to a horizontal plane defined by the middle support portion and a second side angled support portion which is positioned at an opposing angle to the horizontal plane defined by the middle support portion. In a preferred embodiment, the second exercise station also has at least one horizontally extending grasping bar which is in a spaced apart relationship to the foot support. A third exercise station stretches the previous muscles and also stretches the hamstring muscles. The third exercise station includes at least one foot stirrup operatively mounted at an angle for supporting a foot. The third exercise station includes at least one horizontally extending bar which is in a spaced apart relationship to the foot stirrup. A fourth exercise station stretches the previous muscles and also stretches muscles from the pelvis to the neck. The fourth exercise station includes an upper gripping member having bars which angle in a rearward and downward direction. The fourth exercise station further includes at least one lower gripping device which is positioned at an angle to the upper gripping device. A fifth exercise station stretches the previous muscles and also stretches the chest muscles. The fifth exercise station includes a plurality of vertically extending bars. A sixth exercise station stretches the previous muscles and also stretches the back and shoulder muscles. The sixth exercise station includes an overhead stretching device having a plurality of angled bars mounted on a center support. The center support has a first end which is positioned at a first distance from a vertical support and a second end spaced at a second and shorter distance from the first end such that the angled bars are held at a preferred angle. Each exercise station preferably includes a support platform to keep the user's feet at a preferred angle. The support platform includes a first angled mat which angles upwardly from a midline and a second angled mat which angles upwardly in an opposite direction from the first angled mat. The support platforms adjacent each exercise station are spaced apart from and are generally perpendicular to the exercise stations such that a user stands on each support platform to use each exercise station.
The multiple station exercise apparatus of the present invention can be used for many types of exercises. However, for ease of illustration, the multiple station exercise and stretching apparatus will be described specifically in connection with performing a golf swing. However, it should be understood that various other sports also involve the use of multiple muscle groups and that a person can use the apparatus of the present invention to perform such stretching exercises. In particular, other contemplated sports include: racket sports such as tennis, racquetball and squash; baseball, softball, cricket, lacrosse, and the like.
The present invention thus provides an exercise apparatus that allows the user to safely exercise and stretch each group of muscles in a logical and cumulative fashion. The multiple station exercise apparatus of the present invention also allows the user to perform many stretching exercises to sufficiently stretch and warm-up every part of the body needed to perform a golf swing. The multiple station exercise apparatus of the present invention allows the user to perform all of the various stretching exercises in one centralized location. The multiple station exercise apparatus is compact and requires comparatively few pieces of equipment. The multiple station exercise apparatus allows the user to perform multiple stretching exercises without spending time resetting the apparatus in order to perform certain exercises. The user can perform the stretching exercises without the need to handle weights or to make adjustments for his or her own particular height and/or flexibility.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1019037 (1912-03-01), Garland
patent: 1142137 (1915-06-01), Bathrick
patent: 3120955 (1964-02-01), Darlin
patent: 3737161 (1973-06-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 4538807 (1985-09-01), Rice
Donnelly Jerome
Emch, Schaffer, Schaub & Porcello & Co., L.P.A.
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