WO2016123324A1

WO2016123324A1 - Toning tree home exercise device

Info

Publication number: WO2016123324A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/015335
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bryan Kaleta; Mark Kaleta
Original assignee: Bryan Kaleta; Mark Kaleta
Priority date: 2015-01-29
Filing date: 2016-01-28
Publication date: 2016-08-04

Abstract

An exercise device has a base or platform on which the user stands or sits. A vertical post extends upward from one end of the base. A resistance band extends around the vertical post which is grasped by the user. The user chooses the exercise he or she wants to do and positions the resistance bands in an appropriate slot on the post. The user positions his body appropriately for the chosen exercise and pushes or pulls on the resistance bands away from the vertical post thereby stretching the resistance bands and exercising his muscles. The vertical post is collapsible on top of the base for easy storage.

Description

PAGE: 1

I. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 62/109,284 filed January 29, 2015. II. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a home exercise device that in a singular piece of equipment allows the user to do various exercises. In particular, this exercise device condenses a variety of exercise machines and apparatus that one would find in a health club into one simple safe home exercise device. In a relatively small footprint, this invention can accomplish the same or more exercises than numerous machines in a typical health club. Past devices have used expensive, heavy machines that utilize heavy weights or complicated pulleys and cables. These other devices are difficult for the user to set up and change from one exercise to another. Applicant' s invention offers a large variety of exercises with minimal effort when switching between exercises. Applicant's toning tree utilizes a base or platform on which the user stands or sits. The user grabs or engages resistance bands while the user stands or sits on the base and performs a variety of multi angle exercises by means of the resistance bands engaging various positioned slots on a vertical post. The user chooses the exercise he or she wants to do and positions the resistance bands in an appropriate slot on the post. The user positions his body appropriately for the chosen exercise and pushes or pulls the handles on the resistance bands away from the vertical post thereby stretching the resistance bands and exercising his muscles. HI. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the exercise device. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the device. Fig. 3 is a right side view of the exercise device in the operational position. PAGE: 2

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the right front corner of the device illustrating the hinge and locking mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side view of the device in the collapsed position illustrating how the vertical beam folds down into the collapsed position. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment in which the resistance bands are attached by an alternate means. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the ring used to attach the bands to the vertical post in the alternate embodiment. IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning to Fig. 1 there is illustrated an exercise device 10 of the present invention. There is a base or platform 12 on which the user stands or sits. At one end of the base 12 is an upstanding vertical post 14 that is designed to rotate or collapse from a horizontal position to the vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the vertical post is comprised of a pair of posts 14a and 14b that are parallel to each other and connected by means of cross bracing 16. Alternatively, the device 10 may be constructed with a singular vertical post 14 provided that it functions in the same manner as the pair of posts 14a and 14b. The posts 14a and 14b have a user facing side 18 and a backside 20. The backside 20 of the vertical posts 14a and 14b has a series of notches 22 placed along the backside 20 so that each notch 22 on vertical post 14a has a complementary notch 22 placed at the same height on vertical post 14b. The top of the post 14 has a handle 23. There are a pair of foot pads 25 that are designed to receive the user's feet during specific exercises. Resistance bands 26 provide a resistive force to the user during the various exercises. The bands 26 can be a singular band or multiple bands. The bands terminate in handles 28, PAGE: 3

which are grasped by the user. One or more of the flexible resistance bands 26 of a selected resistance is placed in the notch 22 so that the center of the band 26 is in the center between vertical posts 14a and 14b. The opening of the notches is slightly smaller than the diameter of the band 26 so that a slight force must be applied to the band 26 in order to force it into the notch 22. In this manner the band is retained in the notch 22 during the entire exercise and will not fall out of the notch when no force is applied to the band. The handles 28 extend out toward the user so that the user can easily grasp and hold the handles 28 while exercising. While the figures show three bands 26 having their ends connected to the handles 28, the user can selectively use one or more bands depending on the desired resistance and the desired position of the band 26 in the appropriate notch 22 for the exercise undertaken. By moving the band 26 into different slots the angle of the band with respect to the user is adjusted depending on the exercise. For example, if the user is doing curls, a singular band 26 will be place in one of the lower notches 22. For simulating bench presses, the user will place the band or bands in one of the center notches. As seen in Fig. 4, the upstanding vertical post 14 is secured in the vertical position by means of a pivot connection 29 mounted in a u-shaped brace 31 that is connected to the base 12. The pivot connection 29 passes through the brace 31 and the bottom of both of the vertical posts 14a and 14b. The vertical post is also attached to the top of angular bracing 30 by means of a pivot connection 40. The lower end of the angular bracing 30 is attached to the base by means of a pin connection 32 that is mounted in a support bracket 34 that in turn is attached to the base 12. The foot pads 25 are mounted on the bracing 30. The posts 14a and 14b are connected at their lower ends to each other by one or more rods 36. The pin connection 32 provides an anchor point for the bracing 30 when the post 14 is upright. As stated above, the top of the bracing 30 is pivotally attached at pivot 40 to the vertical posts 14a and 14b. PAGE: 4

In order to collapse the device 10 for storage, the user pulls on a release ring 38 that is attached to the end of the pin connection 32. This pulls the pin connection 32 out from the bracket 34 and allows the bracing 30 to slide forward across the surface of the base 12. The vertical post 14 pivots downward about the pivot connection 29. The top of the bracing 30 pivots about pivot 40 until the bracing 30 and foot pad 25 lie flat above the base 12 as seen in Fig. 5. In this position the vertical post 14 also lies flat above the base 12. There is a pair of wheels 44 that are mounted on the front of the base 12 so that when the device 10 is in the collapsed storage position, the user can lift the rear of the base by means of the handle 23 to transport the device 10 to another location or put it away when not in use. To use the exercise device 10, the user selects the exercise that he wants to perform and positions the appropriate resistance band or bands 26 in the appropriate notches 16. He or she grasps the handles 28 and pulls or pushes (depending on the exercise) against the handles 28 and the resistance band 18 while standing on the base 12. If necessary, he or she may also brace him/her self against the foot pads 25. The user performs the number of repetitions to complete the particular exercise. By moving the resistance band to a different notch, different exercises can be done. However, in all instances the user is positioned on the base 12 so that the weight of the user contributes to the stability of the base and keeps the base from sliding. In another exercise the user sits on the base 12 and places his feet against the foot pads 25. The user grasps the handles 28 and performs sit ups. By selection of one or more of the proper resistance bands 26, the energy necessary for the sit up exercise can be varied. The base 12 also has a hook 50 mounted near the front of the base 12. Attached to the hook is a flexible resistance band 52 that can be used for additional exercises. For example, the user can place his/her foot through the band 52 and perform leg lifts in any of numerous directions to exercise different leg muscles. The resistance can be changed by changing the band to one of more or less resistance. PAGE: 5

In the alternate embodiment of Fig. 6, the device 10 is substantially identical to the first embodiment except for the band 26' and the means to attach the band 26' to the vertical posts 14a' and 14b'. In this embodiment the bands 26' terminate at each end in a pear shaped metal ring 54. The ring 54 is then hooked over a post 54 that has a groove 58 cut into the post 56. The ring 54 is seated in the groove 58 and the user does his exercises in the same manner as previously described. The device can be manufactured from injection molded plastic, metal, wood or a combination of these elements. The resistance bands are available in the market with different resistances available to vary the force needed for a given exercise. By moving the resistance bands to different position in the notches, different exercises can be performed depending on the angle of the band in the notches with respect to the user. Thus there has been provided an exercise device that allows the user to easily perform a multitude of exercises in a single device. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

PAGE: 6 V. CLAIMS

What is claimed is: 1. An exercise device comprising: a base adapted for supporting a user, the base having a forward end and a rear end a vertical post having a top end and a bottom end and front and rear sides, a pivot connection for connecting the bottom end of the post to the forward end of the base, means for locking the vertical post in an upright position means for releasing the locking means from the upright position and allowing the vertical post to be pivoted about the pivot connection to substantially a horizontal position above the top surface, an elastic resistance band having opposite ends with handles attached to each of the ends, a plurality of grooves disposed at the rear side of the vertical post for receiving the elastic resistance band with the opposite ends of the resistance band extending beyond the front side of the vertical post for grasping by the user, whereby the user pulls the handles in a direction away from the vertical post so the resistant band provides a resistive force to the user. PAGE: 7

2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the means for locking the vertical post in the upright position comprises an angular bracing member that has an upper end and a lower end, the upper end pivotally connected to the vertical post and the lower end connected to the base.

3. The exercise device of claim 2 and further comprising a locking bracket mounted to the base and a locking pin that passes through the bracing member and the bracket to retain the bracing member in the locking bracket.

4. The exercise device of claim 3 wherein the locking pin is received in a passage in the bracket and an aligned passage in the bracing member whereby the locking pin can be removed from the passages to release the bracing member from the bracket.

5. The exercise device of claim 4 wherein the vertical post can be pivoted from the vertical position to the horizontal position above the base when the locking pin is removed from the passages.

6. The device of claim 5 and further comprising wheels mounted at the forward end of the base. PAGE: 8

7. The device of claim 1 and further comprising at least two vertical posts in spaced parallel relationship to each other.

8. The device of claim 7 and further comprising connecting bars to connect the two vertical posts to each other, and wherein the two vertical posts have grooves that are in substantially the same horizontal plane to receive the elastic resistance bands.

9. The device of claim 8 and further comprising a leg resistance band mounted to the base for providing resistance to a user for various leg exercises.

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10. An exercise device comprising: a base adapted for supporting a user, the base having a forward end and a rear end a vertical post having a top end and a bottom end and front and rear sides, an elastic resistance band having opposite ends with handles attached to each of the ends, a plurality of grooves disposed at the rear side of the vertical post for receiving the elastic resistance band with the opposite ends of the resistance band extending beyond the front side of the vertical post for grasping by the user, a pivot connection at the bottom of the vertical post for connecting the bottom end of the post to the forward end of the base, an angular bracing member that has an upper end and lower end, the upper end pivotally connected to the vertical post and the lower end connected to the base, a locking bracket mounted to the base and a locking pin that passes through the bracing member and the locking bracket to retain the bracing member in the locking bracket when the vertical post is in the upright position, a passage in the bracket and an aligned passage in the bracing member for receiving the locking pin and whereby the locking pin can be removed from the passages to release the bracing member from the bracket, wherein the vertical post can be pivoted from the vertical position to the horizontal position above the base when the locking pin is removed from the passages. PAGE: 10

1 1. The exercise device of claim 10 wherein the plurality of grooves is disposed along the vertical post for providing various positions for the resistance band to be placed for providing various angles of the resistance band to the user for differing exercises.

12. The device of claim 10 and further comprising at least two vertical posts in spaced parallel relationship to each other.

13. The device of claim 12 and further comprising wheels mounted at the forward end of the base.

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14. An exercise device comprising: a base adapted for supporting a user, the base having a forward end and a rear end two vertical posts parallel to each other and having top and a bottom ends and front and rear sides, elastic resistance bands having opposite ends with a handle at one end and a ring attached to the other end, pins mounted on the vertical posts for receiving the rings at the end of the elastic resistance band with the opposite ends of the resistance bands with the handles extending beyond the front side of the vertical posts for grasping by the user, a pivot connection at the bottom of the vertical posts for connecting the bottom end of the posts to the forward end of the base, an angular bracing member that has an upper end and lower end, the upper end pivotally connected to each of the vertical posts and the lower end connected to the base, a locking bracket mounted to the base and a locking pin that passes through the bracing member and the locking bracket to retain the bracing member in the locking bracket when the vertical posts are in the upright position, a passage in the bracket and an aligned passage in the bracing member for receiving the locking pin and whereby the locking pin can be removed from the passages to release the bracing member from the bracket, wherein the vertical posts can be pivoted from the vertical position to the horizontal position above the base when the locking pin is removed from the passages.