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Exercise system

Exercise system description/claims

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/412,309, filed Apr. 26, 2006, which is continuation of application Ser. No. 10/946,927, filed Sep. 21, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,001, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/240,387, filed Sep. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,271, which is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US01/41736, filed Aug. 14, 2001, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/225,326, filed Aug. 14, 2000, all of which prior applications are incorporated herein by reference.

This also is continuation of application Ser. No. 11/860,447, filed Sep. 24, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/846,526, filed Sep. 22, 2006, both of which prior applications are incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates trampoline-type devices for physical exercise. Such devices commonly referred to as “rebounders,” typically are circular and have a relatively small diameter of about forty inches with a surface area available for jumping of about thirty inches or less. An example of one such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,181.

Like larger trampolines, such devices have a bed that is made of flexible fabric attached to an encompassing frame by springs. Although the bed of such a rebounder is quite resilient, it subjects the jumper's feet to severe pronation because the bed does not descend uniformly upon impact. Instead, the periphery of the bed remains near its original elevation upon impact from a jumper's foot while the center region of the bed descends a relatively much greater distance. The effect is similar to running on a severely banked roadway where a runner's foot is subject to unnatural stresses because it never lands on flat ground.

Jumping on full-sized trampolines is far less stressful because, due to its larger diameter, the bed of a full-sized trampoline typically is never at as steep an angle and because full-sized trampolines are used differently. With rebounders, the user is typically exercising in a way that produces numerous rapid footfalls, whereas use of a full-sized trampoline typically involves fewer and less frequent impacts.

Currently available rebounder-type devices do not fully allow the user to develop their spatial awareness, balance and coordination because of their restrictiveness. It is generally known in the art that bouncing exercise is excellent for developing spatial awareness, balance and coordination, especially for the elderly individuals with mild disability. However, because of the dynamic nature of the rebounding surface, many individuals require a handhold for stability. Rebounders with fixed handholds attached to the rebounder frame are known, but do not allow the user freedom of rotation while performing rebounding exercise.

Described herein is a rebounder having an encompassing frame supported by plural legs and a substantially rigid platform suspended on the frame. A pad of resilient material is secured above the platform. Also described is a vertical frame which may have a directly attached handhold and a rotating handhold attached by elastic connections.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of components of a rebounder having a substantially rigid platform.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a base of a platform which is a component of the rebounder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rebounder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rebounder having a vertical frame with a rotating handhold assembly.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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