Exercise devices – Support for entire body of user
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-24
2001-06-12
Donnelly, Jerome (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Support for entire body of user
C482S123000, C482S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06245001
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly, to a multipurpose apparatus that allows the user to perform a variety of exercises and that is especially adapted to allow for a more entertaining and varied workout. More specifically, the device relates to exercise apparatus that include resistive elements removably attached to the body of the device. Even more specifically, it relates to exercise devices where the resistive elements may be attached at a plurality of locations on the body of the device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various exercise machines that allow the user to work out varied portions of the body are well known in the art of athletic equipment. Many exercise devices, including the present invention, utilize resistive elements to provide tension against which the user works. All of these devices have their drawbacks, one of which is the difficulty of storage and in the trouble that people of varied sizes, ages, skill levels, and strength have in exercising with the same machine. The present invention seeks to address these concerns and also provide a multipurpose exercise machine that is low in cost to manufacture and produce.
During a search at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a number of relevant patents were uncovered and they will be discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,676,015 issued to William F. Courtney on Apr. 20, 1954 discloses an exercising table with a handgrip. This is clearly unlike the present invention in that there is no teaching of either the storage compartment of the present invention or of the clip rings for the elastic bands.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,376 issued to Jack M. Schatz et al. on Jan. 8, 1985 there is taught a lower extremity exerciser. The exerciser involves tubes that fit into pegs and elastic straps that fit around the tubes to provide resistance. There is no teaching of the present invention's clip rings, nor of the adjustable hinged support and storage compartments in the body of the invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,426 issued to Villem J. Van Straaten on Aug. 3, 1993 discloses a exercising machine. This is clearly dissimilar from the present invention in that no elastic bands or attachment rings are taught.
Another Patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,341 issued to Michael R. Carrington on Apr. 2, 1985. This teaches a pass blocking sled with a elongated pivoting arm, an impacting surface, and a compressible spring. As in the above patents, there is no teaching of the various clip rings and elastic bands of the instant invention.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,249 issued to Ken Endelman on Oct. 28, 1997 there is disclosed a convertible exercise apparatus. Unlike the present invention, no clip rings or storage compartment is taught.
Next is U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,870 issued to Mellisa Osborn on Dec. 16, 1997. This is a portable stepping exerciser with storage compartments. Unlike the present invention, there is no hinge to allow various angles between the main surface area and the storage area.
Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,898 issued to William T. Wilkinson on Aug. 6, 1996. This multifunction exercise and aerobic bench is dissimilar from the present invention in that there is no teaching of either the clip rings or the centrally mounted pivoting adjustment rod of the instant invention.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,575 issued to Tien-Lai Wu on Nov. 19, 1996 discloses a multipurpose exercise apparatus. Unlike the present invention, there is no teaching of the various clip rings or the pivotal adjustment rod.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use various configurations of resistive elements and pivoting sections in the exercise device art, the provision of this more simple and cost effective device is not contemplated. Nor does the prior art described above teach or suggest a multipurpose exercise apparatus which may be used by individuals of varying skill and strength levels, as well as people of varying ages. In the existing art, many of the devices are expensive to manufacture and are bulky. The foregoing disadvantages are overcome by the unique structure of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a multipurpose exercise device with a generally rectangular, boxlike main body. The top surface of the body is hinged transversely to create a storage container and an adjustable section that can be fixed at various angles in relation to the main body by using a pivotal adjustment arm extending the bottom of the boxlike body. In the first embodiment, a plurality of clip rings is provided along both the side of the boxlike main body and a depending inner lip of the adjustable upper section. The user may attach resistive elements to various of these clip rings to allow for a wide variety of different exercises. The resistive elements may be color coded to indicate greater or lesser resistance. The resistive elements are stored in the provided storage container within the main body when the apparatus is not in use. In a second embodiment, there is no depending inner lip on the pivoting sections. It has also been contemplated that the bench will be able to be placed upon risers to permit the user to employ the bench as a step for aerobics activity.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least two preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
An object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose exercise apparatus wherein user works against resistive elements.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose exercise apparatus wherein the resistive elements may be stored within the main box-like body of the device.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose exercise apparatus where the main box-like body of the device is transversely pivoted to create a main section and a storage section.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a multipurpose exercise apparatus where a plurality of ring clips is provided along the sides of the box-like main body allowing the resistive elements to be clipped in where the user desires, allowing a large number of various exercises to be done.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a multipurpose exercise apparatus wherein the pivoting main section includes a depending inner lip that also has a plurality of ring clips allowing further variety in placement of the resistiv
Donnelly Jerome
Hamill Jr. Tom
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