GB2293116A

GB2293116A - Exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2293116A
Application number: GB9418613A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Charles Coombs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-15
Filing date: 1994-09-15
Publication date: 1996-03-20
Also published as: GB9418613D0

Abstract

Exercise apparatus (1) comprises a plastics tube (2) with an end plug (6) threadedly engaged in each end. The tube (2) contains three or four cylindrical weights (8) each comprising a PVC sleeve (10) containing a filling (12) such as sand plugged at each end with a plug (14). Four raised lands extending the length of the tube (2) engage the weights (8) allowing them to slide easily into the tube (2). The apparatus may also include a flexible elastic loop (20) on which two ferrules (22) are slidably mounted for extending the range of exercises which may be performed with the apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

EXERCISE APPARATUS The present invention relates to exercise apparatus suitable for use in the course of so called aerobics training.

In order to increase the effectiveness of aerobics training it is possible to provide the exerciser with hand held weights such as small dumbbells or the like.

Depending on the fitness and strength of the exerciser, weights of different masses are required and accordingly an establishment catering for group exercising needs to have a large stock of such weights in order to ensure that each exerciser can be provided with an appropriate pair of weights. Furthermore the number of exercises for which a pair of individual dumbbells can be appropriately used is severely limited. One alternative to a pair of dumbbells is a conventional weights bar at outer ends of which disc like weights are externally mounted. Thick protective floor matting is normally necessary when such weights bars are used and again the number of exercises for which such a weights bar can be used is limited. Such weights bars are also undesirably noisy to use and generally not aesthetically pleasing.

The object of the invention is to provide an item of exercise apparatus which is suitable for use during so called aerobics training and which overcomes at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art apparatus described above.

Thus according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an exercise apparatus comprising a tube accommodating removable weights.

The ability to remove the weights means that the overall mass of the apparatus can be varied to suit different users by changing the mass and/or number of weights accommodated within the tube. Due to the accommodation of the weights within the tube the requirement for protective floor covering when the apparatus is in use can be avoided and graphic decoration can easily be applied to an external surface of the tube and not be physically or aesthetically interfered with by the positioning of weights on the external surface of the tube.

For ease of manufacture the tube and the weights preferably have complementary substantially circular cross sections. An internal surface of the tube may be provided with more than two, for example three or four, raised lands which project inwardly and provide an interference fit with the weights. With such an arrangement the weights can be held securely against lateral movement within the tube without making removal of the weights from the tube difficult. The weights are longitudinally slidable into the tube for insertion purposes.

In order to ensure that the weights are securely held in the tube a threaded end plug is preferably screwed into each end of the tube.

The tube is preferably substantially filled by three or more, preferably four, weights. Accordingly the overall length of individual weights can be advantageously short for storage purposes and fine adjustment of the overall mass and mass distribution of the apparatus can be easily effected. It may for instance be desirable to distribute a high proportion of the mass of the apparatus near the centre or the ends of the tube depending on the exercises to be performed with the apparatus.

Each weight preferably weighs over 2 kilograms and more preferably over 2.5 kilograms.

The overall outer diameter of the tube is preferably over 35 mm and more preferably over 45 mm in order to provide a comfortable grip for an average sized adult hand.

The overall length of the tube is preferably between l.0m and 1.4m and more preferably between 1.lem and 1.3m.

The tube and weights preferably comprise a plastic material such as PVC and the weights preferably comprise a sealed weighted plastic tube.

So as to increase the number of exercises which can be performed with the apparatus it also preferably includes at least one flexible elongate elastic element of a material such as shock cord which is attachable to the tube. Preferably a distal region of the elastic element is adapted to facilitate engagement by a user's limb.

Conveniently the elastic element is in the form of a loop provided with one or two ferrules which are slidable along the loop so as to constrict a bight of the elastic element around a part of the tube and/or a users limb.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an exercise apparatus set comprising an exercise apparatus as described above in combination with one or more additional weights which are interchangeable with those accommodated within the tube wherein not all of the weights have the same mass.

The apparatus will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal view of the apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention partially cross-sectioned, Figure 2 shows a transverse cross-section of the apparatus on the line BB in figure 1, Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of an elastic element for use with the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a part sectioned longitudinal view of the exercise apparatus 1 according to the invention.

The apparatus includes a PVC tube 2 each end of which is provided with an internal screw thread 4 for engagement by a threaded PVC end plug 6. The tube contains weights 8 each of which comprises a PVC sleeve 10 containing a filling such as sand 12 or any other suitable material and is sealed at each end by a stopper 14. The embodiment shown is adapted to receive four weights of equal length.

The space 16 at the left hand end of Figure 1 is ready to receive the fourth weight by insertion through the adjacent end of the tube.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section on the line BB of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. The inner surface of the tube 2 is provided with four inwardly projecting lands 18 each adapted to engage the outer surface of a weight sleeve 10 by line contact. The overall surface area of each sleeve contacted by the tube 2 is accordingly very small and secure lateral restraint of each weight is provided without impairing its ability to slide along the tube for insertion or removal purposes.

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a shock cord loop 20 which may also form part of the apparatus. The loop 20 includes two ferrules 22 each of which can be slid along the shock cord 26 so as to reduce the size of a bight 24 of shock cord around a part of the tube or a users limb.

The overall length of the tube is 1.2m and the and the outer diameter is 46.5mm.

External decoration can be easily applied to the external surface of the tube 2 by etching, screen printing or by applying a thin film of vinyl or some other material

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Exercise apparatus comprising a tube accommodating removable weights.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube and weights have complementary substantially circular crosssections.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the tube has an internal surface provided with three or more raised lands which project inwardly and engage the weights.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lands extend substantially the full length of the tube.
5. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the weights are longitudinally slidable into the tube.
6. The apparatus of any preceding claim including a plug which engages the tube by means of a screw thread at one or both ends of the tube.
7. The apparatus of any preceding claim including at least three weights.
8. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the weights substantially fill the tube.
9. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein each weight weighs at least 2 kg.
10. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the tube has an outer diameter of over 35 mm.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tube has an outer diameter of over 45 mm.
12. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the tube has an overall length of between 1.0 metres and 1.4 metres.
13. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein each weight comprises a sealed weighted tube.
14. The apparatus of any preceding claim including additional weights interchangeable with those accommodated by the tube wherein not all of the weights have the same mass.
15. The apparatus of any preceding claim including an elongate flexible elastic element which is attachable to the tube.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the elastic element is in the form of a loop of elastic material on which one or more ferrules are slidably mounted.
17. Exercise apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying Figures.