Exercise apparatus and method

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning exercise devices.

Rowing as an exercise is known as an excellent way to involve multiple muscle groups in an effective, low-impact workout. It incorporates many of the upper body muscles that directly affect one\'s posture, upper body muscular strength, flexibility, fitness, circulation, and cardiovascular health.

Many people work long hours seated at desks, driving, and/or do many tasks that negatively affect the posture and/or do not exercise the upper body regularly enough to stay in shape.

Some of the benefits of rowing in general are: strengthens the involved muscles (mainly upper back but also biceps, abdominals, lower back, etc.), improves posture and spinal health, both energizes and relaxes one\'s phsyical and mental being and reduces stress, combats the negative affects of long periods of sitting, combats and improves poor posture, provides low-impact exercise, and aids joint health.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,268 to Salkind provides a rowing exercise apparatus. The apparatus includes a large rigid lever 40 and a large base structure 22. Although the exercise apparatus of Salkind can be reduced in size to some degree for transporting, it still remains a large bulky device.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention a portable, compact, substantially vertical rowing exercise apparatus is provided. The apparatus may be called “VerteRow”. The apparatus and a method of use provide a convenient, portable, compact rowing exercise unit to exercise the upper body and combat the negative affects of long periods of sitting and/or poor posture. The apparatus can be used as an exercise machine in a traditional sense and/or incorporated into one\'s workday at the office. For example an individual can take periodic breaks to use the apparatus. The apparatus can be kept under one\'s work desk, beside one\'s couch or in a truck driver\'s cab. These are just a few of the many uses for an apparatus in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus can be used for exercise movements other than a rowing movement. One can also do a bicep curl movement, or an over the head shoulder press movement (which may require a cable extension to be connected), or other types of movements.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention an exercise apparatus is provided. The exercise apparatus may include a body portion having a top and a bottom, a first foot extension connected to the body portion closer to the bottom of the body portion than to the top of the body portion, and a second foot extension connected to the body portion closer to the bottom of the body portion than to the top of the body portion. The exercise apparatus may also include a first bracing device connected to the body portion closer to the top of the body portion than to the bottom of the body portion, and a second bracing device connected to the body portion closer to the top of the body portion than to the bottom of the body portion. The exercise apparatus may further include a first cord attached to a resistance device. In at least one embodiment, an individual can pull the first cord in order to cause the resistance device to exert a tension force on the first cord and thereby on the individual.

The resistance device may include a means for adjusting a resistance level. For example, a knob or screw may be attached to the resistance device. When the knob or screw is turned clockwise the resistance level of the resistance device may increase so that it is harder to pull the first cord. When the knob or screw is turned counter clockwise the resistance level of the resistance device may decrease so that it is easier to pull the first cord.

A first member may be attached to the first foot extension such that the individual can insert their first foot into the first member so that the first foot rests on the first foot extension, and a second member may be attached to the second foot extension such that the individual can insert their second foot into the second member so that the second foot rests on the second foot extension, while the first foot is inserted into the first member and while the first foot rests on the first foot extension. The first foot extension may be connected to the body portion so that the first foot extension can rotate with respect to the body portion in order to reduce an area taken up by the exercise apparatus, and the second foot extension may be connected to the body portion so that the second foot extension can rotate with respect to the body portion in order to reduce the area taken up by the exercise apparatus. Similarly, the first bracing device may be connected to the body portion so that the first bracing device can rotate with respect to the body portion in order to reduce the area taken up by the exercise apparatus, and the second bracing device may be connected to the body portion so that the second bracing device can rotate with respect to the body portion in order to reduce the area taken up by the exercise apparatus.

The exercise apparatus may further include a first handle and a second handle. The first handle and the second handle may be connected to the first cord. The resistance device may include a spring. The exercise apparatus may further include a first pulley, wherein the first cord is wound around the first pulley and attached to the resistance device. A second pulley may also be provided, wherein the first cord is wound around the first and the second pulley and attached to the resistance device.

The body portion may be shaped substantially in the form of a cylinder. The first foot extension and the first bracing device may be separated by a distance which allows an average adult to place their first foot onto the first foot extension while the first bracing device braces against a first shin corresponding to the first foot; and the second foot extension and the second bracing device may be separated by a distance which allows an average adult to place their second foot onto the second foot extension while the second bracing device braces against a second shin corresponding to the second foot.

In at least one embodiment a method is provided comprising standing a body portion of an exercise apparatus substantially upright, placing a first foot of an individual onto a first foot extension connected to the body portion of the exercise apparatus, and placing a second foot of an individual onto a second foot extension of the exercise apparatus, while the first foot is on the first foot extension, the second foot extension connected to the body portion of the exercise apparatus. The method may also include bracing a first bracing device of the exercise apparatus against a first shin corresponding to the first foot of the individual, wherein the first bracing device is connected to the body portion of the exercise apparatus, and bracing a second bracing device of the exercise apparatus against a second shin corresponding to the second foot of the individual, wherein the second bracing device is connected to the body portion of the exercise apparatus. The method may further include pulling a first cord attached to a resistance device to cause the resistance device to exert a tension force on the first cord and thereby on the individual.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a first state;

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 2 in a second state;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 along with a person using the apparatus; and

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