Title:

Adjustable exercise Bench

United States Patent Application 20020165071

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

An adjustable bench has a bottom frame and a top frame adjustable with respect to the bottom frame. The top frame has three different positions provided to the user to exercise the user's spine or for relaxation. Furthermore, the adjustable bench is foldable for storage.

Inventors:

Wu, Jack (Taipei, TW)

Application Number:

09/849142

Publication Date:

11/07/2002

Filing Date:

05/04/2001

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

WU JACK

Primary Class:

482/142

International Classes:

A63B26/00; (IPC1-7): A63B26/00

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20020165071

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Primary Examiner:

DONNELLY, JEROME W

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

PATENTTM.US (PORTLAND, OR, US)

Claims:

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable exercise bench comprising: a U-shaped head frame with tapered distal ends and having a stop formed on opposite sides of the head frame; a U-shaped foot frame with tapered distal ends pivotally connected to tapered distal ends of the head frame by means of a control device and having a key formed on opposite sides of the foot frame; a mediate frame selectively engaged with the stop on the head frame and having a first frame pivotally extending upward with respect to the mediate frame to pivotally yet securely connect with the head frame and a second frame pivotally yet securely connected with the mediate frame; a first locking device provided at distal ends of the mediate frame to correspond to the key on the foot frame so as to secure the engagement between the distal ends of the mediate frame and the foot frame; and a second locking device provided on the mediate frame to correspond to the stop on the head frame so as to selectively secure the relative position of the head frame to the mediate frame.

2. The adjustable exercise bench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device comprises two disks separated from each other, a shaft extending through tapered distal ends of the head frame and the foot frame and a block formed between the two disks to stop further pivotal movement between the head frame and the foot frame.

3. The adjustable exercise bench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking device comprises a connection plate securely engaged at the distal end of the mediate frame with a keyway defined in the connection plate, wherein the keyway is configured to mate with the key to allow the key to be slidably received in the keyway.

4. The adjustable exercise bench as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first locking device comprises a connection plate securely engaged at the distal end of the mediate frame with a keyway defined in the connection plate, wherein the keyway is configured to mate with the key to allow the key to be slidably received in the keyway.

5. The adjustable exercise bench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second locking device comprises a support rod pivotally extending out from the mediate frame and having a top extension and a bottom extension separated from the top extension so as to receive the stop on the head frame, wherein the bottom extension has a ball-spring combination so as to detachably retain the stop between the top and bottom extensions.

6. The adjustable exercise bench as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second locking device comprises a support rod pivotally extending out from the mediate frame and having a top extension and a bottom extension separated from the top extension so as to receive the stop on the head frame, wherein the bottom extension has a ball-spring combination so as to detachably retain the stop between the top and bottom extensions.

7. The adjustable exercise bench as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second locking device comprises a support rod pivotally extending out from the mediate frame and having a top extension and a bottom extension separated from the top extension so as to receive the stop on the head frame, wherein the bottom extension has a ball-spring combination so as to detachably retain the stop between the top and bottom extensions.

8. The adjustable exercise bench as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second locking device comprises a support rod pivotally extending out from the mediate frame and having a top extension and a bottom extension separated from the top extension so as to receive the stop on the head frame, wherein the bottom extension has a ball-spring combination so as to detachably retain the stop between the top and bottom extensions.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an exercise bench, and more particularly to an adjustable exercise bench that has a bottom frame and a top frame adjustable with respect to the bottom frame. A user lying on the bench is able to exercise in different positions based on the configuration of the top frame.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] With more and more people working in offices for long periods of time, the so-called “civilization illness” afflicting the human body, especially the spine, has become more common place. When people work with computers, they often maintain a particular, unnatural posture for hours, which puts a great deal of stress on the spine. The virtual constant application of these unnatural stresses causes all kinds of bone and nerve damage that affect human health. A solution to the deterioration of health is regular exercise. However, many people do not like to exercise. An alternate solution is thus necessary for those who spend a lot of time indoors and do not like to exercise.

[0005] The present invention provides an improved adjustable exercise bench to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary objective of the invention is to provide an adjustable exercise bench to allow a user to lie on the bench and exercise in a good posture, especially with regard to the spine.

[0007] Another objective of the invention is to provide a foldable exercise bench, such that the exercise bench occupies only a small space for storage.

[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable exercise bench in accordance with the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the mechanism between the top frame and the support rod of the adjustable exercise bench in FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a side plan view showing relationship between the top frame and the support rod of the adjustable exercise bench in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the mechanism between the bottom frame and the foot frame of the adjustable exercise bench in FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the mechanism between the head frame and the foot frame of the adjustable exercise bench in FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the exercise bench in FIG. 1 in a level position;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the exercise bench in FIG. 1 in a reversed V shape;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the e exercise bench in FIG. 1 in a V shape; and

[0017] FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the exercise bench in FIG. 1 folded for storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the adjustable exercise bench in accordance with the present invention has a top frame and a bottom frame.

[0019] The top frame is composed of a head frame (20) and a foot frame (30). Both the head frame (20) and the foot frame (30) are U shaped and are pivotally connected to each other by means of a control device (40) at respective tapered distal ends of the head and foot frames (20, 30). The head frame (20) has a stop (21) formed on opposite sides of the head frame (20). The foot frame (30) has a key (31) (shown in FIG. 4) formed on opposite sides of the foot frame (30).

[0020] The bottom frame is composed of a U-shaped mediate frame (11), a first frame (12) and a second frame (13). The first frame (12) is pivotally connected to the mediate frame (11) and the head frame (20). The second frame (13) is pivotally connected to the mediate frame (11). A support rod (50) is pivotally connected to the mediate frame (11) and has a distal end and a proximal end. With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a second locking device comprises, for example, a top extension (51) and a bottom extension (52). The top extension (51) and the bottom extension (52) extend perpendicular from the support rod (50) near the distal end of the support rod (50). The top and bottom extensions (51, 52) have a proximal end and a distal end and are parallel and separated from each other. A ball-spring combination (53) is mounted in the bottom extension (52). The distance between the top and bottom extensions (51, 52) is adapted to receive the stop (21). When the stop (21) is received between the top and bottom extensions (51, 52), movement of the stop (21) is limited by the ball-spring combination (53). Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 4, distal ends of the mediate frame (11) each has a first locking device including a connection plate (15) with a keyway (16) defined in the connection plate (15) and configured to mate with the key (31) on the foot frame (30). Therefore, when the stop (21) is securely received between the top and bottom extensions (51, 52) and the key (31) is slidably received in the keyway (16) in the connection plate (15) on the mediate frame (11) to allow pivotal movement between the foot frame (30) and the mediate frame (11), the exercise bench is held in a level (horizontal) position, as shown in FIG. 1 and 6, and a user is able to lie on the exercise bench for relaxation.

[0021] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the control device (40) has two disks (41), a shaft (42) and a block (43). The disks (41) are separated from each other. The shaft (42) extends through the two disks (41) and tapered distal ends of the head frame (20) and the foot frame (30). The block (43) is formed between the two disks (41). When the stop (21) is released from the ball-spring combination (53), the support rod (50) pivots and engages with the mediate frame (11). Meanwhile, if the key (31) leaves the keyway (16) in the connection plate (15), the head frame (20) and the foot frame (30) are able to freely pivot with regard to each other. With reference to FIG. 7, when the head frame (20) and the foot frame (30) pivot to form a reversed V shape, the block (43) engages with both the head frame (20) and the foot frame (30) to stop further pivotal movement between the head frame (20) and the foot frame (30). Accordingly, the user is able to lie on the exercise bench to work on the spine.

[0022] When the head frame (20) and the foot frame (30) pivot toward the mediate frame (11) to form a V shape, the stop (21) engages the periphery of the mediate frame (11) to stop further pivotal movement such that the head frame (20) and the foot frame (30) are held in position to exercise the user's spine.

[0023] Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 9, when the adjustable exercise bench is to be put away for storage, the user only needs to disengage the key (31) from the keyway (16), then the entire exercise bench is able to be folded. Thus, the size of the folded exercise bench is compact and occupies only a small space, which is quite important in crowded metropolitan areas.

[0024] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

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