US3664667A - Push-pull roller or stationary type exercising apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

AN EXERCISING APPARATUS CONSTITUTING TWO EXERCISING MEMBERS, EACH INCLUDING THREE ROLLERS FREELY ROTATABLE AND SUPPORTED BY TWO PARALLEL SIDE PLATES. THE ROLLERS ARE ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO THE SIDE PLATES SO THAT IN ONE ORIENTTATIOPN OF THE SIDE PLATES RELATIVE TO A FLAT SURFACE TWO OF THE ROLLERS MAY BE PLACED IN CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE WITH THE SIDE PLATES ELEVATED THEREFROM TO ENABLE THE EXERCISING MEMBER TO BE ROLLED ALONG THE SURFACE. IN A SECONDORIENTATION OF THE EXERCISING MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE SUR-

FACE THE SIDE PLATES MAY CONTACT THE SURFACE WITH ALL THE ROLLER BEING ELEVATED THEREFROM SO THE EXERCISING MEMBER IS STATIONARY ON THE SURFACE. ELONGATED ELASTIC STRANDS CAN HAVE THEIR ENDS ATTACHED TO THE MEMBERS. THE APPARATUS CAN BE USED AS A PULLING TENSION EXERCISES, OR AS INDIVIDUAL ROLLING SUPPORTS FOR THE HANDS, OR AS STABLE SUPPORTS FOR THE HANDS.

Description

y 1972 E. J. MCCARTHY 3,664,667

PUSH-PULL ROLLER OR STATIONARY TYPE EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1970 INVENTOR EDWARD J. Mc CARTHY ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 272-433 R Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An exercising apparatus constituting two exercising members, each including three rollers freely rotatable and supported by two parallel side plates. The rollers are arranged with respect to the side plates so that in one orientation of the side plates relative to a flat surface two of the rollers may be placed in contact with the surface with the side plates elevated therefrom to enable the exercising member to be rolled along the surface. In a second orientation of the exercising member relative to the surface the side plates may contact the surface with all the rollers being elevated therefrom so the exercising mem her is stationary on the surface. Elongated elastic strands can have their ends attached to the members. The apparatus can be used as a pulling tension exerciser, or as individual rolling supports for the hands, or as stable supports for the hands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to an exercising apparatus and more particularly to an exercising apparatus which can be utilized in a variety of ways to enable a person to exercise and develop a plurality of different muscles.

(2) Description of the prior art At the present time there are a great many types of exercising devices available to enable a person to exercise and develop different muscles. A significant drawback of many of these devices is their lack of versatility. As an example, some of these devices enable a person to exercise and develop his stomach muscles but cannot be utilized to enable a person to exercise and develop the muscles in his arms or to perform yoga exercises of the type which have recently become very popular. One such yoga exercise is where a person places himself in an inverted position with his feet against a wall. It is of course obvious that the optimum situation is achieved when an exercising apparatus is capable of enabling a person to do as many different and varied exercises as he desires. In those situations where this not not possible the person must utilize a variety of often expensive exercising devices to enable him to do the exercises he chooses.

It is thus readily apparent that if an exercising device could be provided which will enable a person to perform a Wide variety of different exercises including some of the yoga exercises as exemplified by the type described above, it would find widespread use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide exercising apparatus which enables a person to perform a wide variety of different exercises.

A further object of the present invention is to provide exercising apparatus which may be utilized for developing arm muscles as well as stomach and other muscles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide exercising apparatus which may be utilized for developing arm muscles as well as stomach and other muscles and still enable a person to perform some yoga exercises.

' Patented May 23, 1972 Still a further object of the present invention is to provide exercising apparatus that is capable of achieving each of the foregoing objects and is inexpensive to make and yet safe to use.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are achieved by utilizing two separate identical exercising members. Each exercising member includes two identical triangularly shaped side plates (optionally the side plates may have more than three sides each) that are held parallel and in registry with each other. The side plates of each exercising member have three edges and include three sets of paired pivotal connections. The three rollers, each having a separate rotational axis, are positioned so each extends between a different set of paired pivotal connections with each roller being freely rotatable about its rotational axis.

A first and second of the three rollers have peripheries that project past a common set of edges on the side plates of each exercising member and each exercising member is free to roll along a surface (usually a flat horizontal surface such as a fioor) on these rollers when its side plates are positioned so the first set of edges is placed adjacent and face the surface. A first of the rollers and a third of the rollers on each exercising member are positioned so as not to project past a second common set of edges of the side plates of each exercising member. The side plates are so configured that at least three points of the said edges of the two side plates define a plane beyond which no other points project (for example the second common set of edges of the side plates may be straight or concave) so that when the exercising members are placed on a surface with the second set of edges of the side plates in contact therewith the members will be non-rolling, i.e., stationary in stable engagement therewith. The position of the rollers of the exercising members relative to the third common set of edges of the side plates of each member is of no consequence in the practice of the present invention. Additional rollers may be provided in addition to the first three; however the invention requires only a minimum of three in the aforesaid relationship to the first and second sets of edges of the side plates. There also may be additional sets of side edges without detracting from the utility of the device according to the present invention.

Each of the exercising members is also provided with an anchoring means that extends parallel to the rollers and is supported between the side plates. The anchoring means is utilized to detachably secure the ends of springs or elastic cords to each exercising member.

When it is desired to use the exercising apparatus of the present invention as a pull tension device the respective ends of springs or elastic cords are attached to the anchoring means of the exercising members. A person may then grip a roller of one exercising member with one hand and a roller of the other member with the other hand. He then cyclically stretches the springs or elastic cords. This develops the persons arm and pectoral muscles and the other muscles which assist in doing the exercise.

Another use of the present invention is to place the exercising members on a generally horizontal surface spaced apart from each other with the first and second rollers of each member in contact with the surface. In this practice of the present invention it is not necessary to utilize springs or elastic cords and thus these elements are not connected to the exercising members. A person while on his knees with each hand grips the roller of the different exercising members that is not in contact with the surface and rolls the exercising members away from himself in a path generally in alignment with the length of his body so as to flatten his body until his stomach touches the floor. By doing this the stomach and other 3 muscles of the user are exercised. In a similar manner the persons toes, rather than his knees, are in contact with said surface.

Alternatively, instead of pushing the exercising members away from his body in a path generally in alignment with his body length the user may push the exercising members in a direction perpendicular to the length of his body or at any angle relative thereto. As a result of varying the manner in which the exercising members are pushed away from the users body different muscles in the body may be exercised, thus showing some of the versatility of the present invention.

The exercising members may also be positioned so that they do not roll along the generally horizontal surface but are stationary with respect thereto. This is accomplished by placing the second common set of edges of the side plates of each exercising member in contact with the surface. If the members are placed by side by side, desirably with rollers substantially parallel, a person may grip the most elevated roller of each exercising member with each hand and use the members supports for push up exercises, hand stands or for standing inverted, on his hands, and placing his feet against a wall for performing yoga exercises.

It is of course to be appreciated that while certain uses of the exercising members of the present invention have been disclosed, others naturally are possible.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly constitutes the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the apparatuses hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective partially broken away view of an exercising member of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the exercising member illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the orientation of the rollers of the member relative to the edges of the side plates;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 and further showing the orientation of the rollers with respect to the edges of the side plates;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the means for securing an end of a spring or elastic cord to an exercising member of the present invention and the means for pivotally supporting a roller;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two exercising members of the present invention with springs being connected to each member to enable a person to exercise by cyclically stretching the springs;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a second embodiment of an exercising member according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating a way of holding the side plates of an exercising member parallel to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to best enjoy the present invention, two exercising members of the type hereinafter described are required and, as the members are identical to each other, a description of one exercising member is provided. In FIG. 1 an exercising member \10 of the present invention is seen to include triangularly- shaped side plates 12 and 14 which are in registry with each other. The side plates may be made from metal, wood or any other suitable material. Side plates 12 and 14 are identical to each other and the following description of side plate 12 provides an understanding of the arrangement of side plate 14 with like parts of each side plate having the same alphabetical designation.

Side plate 12 includes equal length edges 12a and 12b and 120. Located between edges 12a and 12b is an apex 12d, while apices 12c and 121 are located between edges 12b, :12c and 120, 12a, respectively. A roller 16 having a rotational axis is secured by pivotal connections 12g and 14g which are adjacent apices 12d and 14d, respectively, so as to be freely rotatable about its axis. It is to be understood that while roller 16 is shown as an elongated cylindrical member, a plurality of wheels rotatable about their axis and supported by pivotal connections 12g and 14g could be used. Other similar rolling devices may also be used in place of roller 16 and the term roller as used here is intended to include any such equivalents.

The manner of securing roller 16 to the respective side plates is shown in FIG. 4 with reference to side plate 14 and consists of inserting a rod 18 having threaded ends through a central bore in roller 16 so that the roller is freely rotatable thereabout. Rod 18 projects through a first washer 20 located on the inside of side plate 14 and fixed as by welding to the rod 18, through an opening in side plate 14 and through a second washer 22 which with the first washer is larger than the opening in plate 14. A nut 24 is screwed on the threaded end of the rod 18 that is adjacent side plate 14. A similar arrangement with the threaded end of rod 18 adjacent side plate 12 prevents the rod from moving relative to any of the side plates. The opening in side plate 14 through which rod 18 projects may be large enough to allow the rod to be freely rotatable therein and a hearing may be used if desired. Other means may be utilized for attaching the rollers to the side plates in a manner which allows the rollers to be freely rotatable about their central axes.

In a similar manner roller 26 is secured to the side plates by pivotal connections 12h and 14h while roller 28 is secured to side plates 12 and I14 by pivotal connections 12 and 14 As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 all the pivotal connections for the rollers are so dispersed with respect to the side plates 12, 14 that a portionof the periphery of each roller 16 and 28 projects beyond edges 12a and 14a while no portion of the periphery of rollers 26 and 28 projects past edges 12c and 140. The position of rollers 16 and 26 relative to edges 12b and 14b is of no consequence in the present invention and a portion of one, both (FIG. 6) or neither (FIG. 2) of the rollers may project beyond edges 12b and 14b.

A conventional anchoring means, constituting a trans versely elongated sleeve, 30, is secured to side plates 12 and 14 as illustrated in (FIGS. 1 and 4. The manner of supporting the sleeve 30 between the side plates may consist of having registered holes 12k and 14k in each side plate to hold a rod 30a with the sleeve supported by this rod as seen in FIG. 4. Cotter pins30e transversely pierce at the ends of rod 30:: on the outsides of the plates to prevent the rod from sliding through either of the plates. The sleeve 30 includes a plurality of transverse slots 30b with the slots being open at their bottoms when the clamp is oriented as seen in FIG. 1. A rod 300 is slidable through the sleeve across the bottoms of the slots and projects through openings 12m and 14m in the side plates with a right angle squat handle 30d at one end of rod 300 (FIG. 1) Rod 300 is of a length such that if handle 30d is adjacent plate 12 the end of the rod at plate 14 is flush with the outside surface of the latter plate. I

A flat strut 32 is fastened to side plates 12 and 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and the bottom portion of the strut is flush with edges 12c and 14c. Strut 32 includes a slot to allow springs or elastic cords to be attached to sleeve 30 as will hereinafter be apparent. Alternatively, the strut may be narrow enough to allow springs or elastic cords to pass between rollers 26 and 28 and be secured to the sleeve 30.

In a similar way strut 34 extends between plates 12 and 14 and has a surface in registry with edges 12b and 14b. Strut 34 may be of solid construction without an opening being necessary since access to the clamp is not needed between rollers 16 and 26. The struts assist in holding the side plates parallel to each other and rigidifying the members.

If the side plates are made of metal the struts may also be made of metal and can be welded to the side plates. However, the choice of material for the struts and side plates and the technique of joining the struts to the side plates is optional and any arrangement may be used.

An alternative method of rigidly holding the side plates parallel to one another is to place braces 36 (FIG. 7) between the side plates in a number of locations. Each brace 36 has a flange 36a which is located adjacent the inside surface of a side plate with a portion of the brace passing through an opening in the side plate. A second flange 36b presses against the outside surface of the side plate with the brace attached to both side plates in this fashion. By using three braces as just described, the parallelism of the side plates will be maintained even when substantial loads are imposed on the rollers.

In order to enjoy the present invention it is desirable that two of the exercising members as herein described be utilized. One such way is to attachvthe ends of. springs or elastic cords to the exercisingmembers as shown in FIG. 5. This can be done by having eyes or loops at the ends of the springs or elastic cords and inserting the eyes in the sleeve slots of the exercising members while the rod 300 is withdrawn and thereafter threading the rod through the sleeve and eyes to secure the ends of the cords to the anchoring means. A person may then grip a roller of each exercising member and cyclically stretch the springs or elastic cords. This assists in developing a persons arm and other muscles.

Another way of utilizing the present invention is to place two exercising members so that edges 12c and 14c of each member are in contact with a generally horizontal flat surface such as a floor. For this use of the exercising members no springs or elastic cords are required and none are connected to the anchoring means of the exercising members. When the exercising members are in this orientation no rollers are in contact with the surface and a person may then grip rollers 16 of the exercising members with each hand and walk around in an inverted position or use the exercising members as supports for push ups or hand stands.

Additionally, in this orientation of the exercising members they may be used as supports for yoga exercises by enabling a person with each hand to grip rollers 16 and place himself in an inverted position with his feet against the Wall. Strut 32 by being flush with edges 12c and 14c increases the stability of each exercising member.

A further use of the present invention is to place the exercising members on a floor spaced apart from one another with rollers 16 and 28 of each member in contact with the floor. A person while on his knees or toes with each hand will grip rollers 26 of the different exercising members and roll the exercising members away from himself in a path either in alignment with his body length or at an angle with respect thereto. By doing this, the stomach and other muscles of the user are exercised. It is to be noted that by varying the angle at which the exercising members are rolled away from the length of the users body different muscles are exercised showing some of the versatility of the present invention.

While the exercising member described herein has been shown using triangularly shaped side plates, it is obvious that any configuration of side plates may be utilized as long as in one orientation of the exercising member two rollers can be rolled along a surface and in a second orientation of the exercising member as set of registered edges of the side plates are in stable contact with the surface with all the rollers being elevated thereform, i.e. out of contact.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced members fixedly oriented with respect to each other,

(b) means for rotatably connecting three rollers between said members with at least two of said rollers being parallel to each other,

(e) first, second and third rollers, said means for rotatably connecting each of said rollers for free rotation about their respection axes, and

(d) said means for rotatably connecting said two rollers being so arranged with respect to said members that said two rollers will be positioned to roll along a surface supporting the apparatus while said members are in one orientation in a second orientation of the members relative to a surface supporting the apparatus, said means for rotatably connecting all the rollers being mounted on the member so that all the rollers will be elevated out of engagement with a surface supporting the apparatus, whereby the exercising apparatus can be rolled along a surface supporting the device during an exercise program or be stationary on a surface.

2. An exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each roller is positioned so as to be equidistant from the other rollers.

3. An exercising apparatus according to claim 1 further defined by said members being parallel to one another, and means for assisting in holding said pair of members parallel to one another.

4. Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 including an anchoring means, said anchoring means being held by said members wherein by securing one end of an elastic elongated member to the anchoring means and fixing an other end of the elastic member exercise may be performed by gripping one of said rollers and cyclically applying tension to the elastic member.

5. Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said members includes at least two segments which arein registry with the two segments on the other members, a first of said registered segments of each of said members including said rotational connection means for said two parallel rollers with said two parallel rollers arranged with respect to said first registered segments of said members to contact a surface supporting the apparatus with the first registered segments elevated from a surface supporting the apparatus when said members are positioned in the first orientation relative to the surface whereby in the first orientation of said members said two parallel rollers can be rolled on a surface supporting the apparatus.

6. Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said members includes at least two segments which are in registry with the two segments on the other member, a second of said registered segments of each of said members including said rotatable connecting means for one of said two parallel rollers with said two parallel rollers and said third roller arranged with respect to said second registered segments of said members to be clear of a surface supporting the apparatus when said second registered segments contact a surface supporting the apparatus with said members positioned in the second orientation relative to a surface supporting the apparatus, whereby in the second orientation of said members said members are stationary on a surface supporting the apparatus.

7. Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said members includes first and second segments that are in registry with the first and second segments of the other member, said first segments of the members including said rotatable connecting means for said two parallel rollers, said two parallel rollers arranged with respect to said first segments to contact a surface supporting the device while said first segments are clear of contact with a surface supporting the device when said members are positioned in the first orientation relative to a surface supporting the device whereby in this orientation the two parallel rollers can be rolled along a' surface supporting the device, said second segments of each of said members including said rotatable connecting means for one of said two parallel roller, said one of said two parallel rollers and said third roller being positioned relative to said second segments to be elevated from a surface supporting the apparatus with said second segments in contact with a surface supporting the device when said members are in the second orientation relative to the surface whereby the members are kept stationary on the surface in the second orientation of'the members relative to a surface supporting the device. 7

8 Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said members include spaced plates each having first, second and third edges with said edges of one plate being in registry with the corresponding edges of the other plate, said rotatable connecting means for one of said two parallel rollers being adjacent the intersection of said first and second edges of said plates, said rotatable connecting means for the second of vsaid two parallel rollers being adjacent the intersection of said second and third edges, said rotatable connecting means for said third roller plates are identically and triangularly shaped.

v References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,072,959 3/1937 Mulvaney et al. l2825 B 2,161,986 6/1939 Thomas l28--25 BX 2,698,454, l/1955 -Meyer 16-32 RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner w. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 27260, 79 R a

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