Versatile board exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus system is provided that uses two elongated boards and a pivot member; the configuration allows a person to perform exercise body movements from recumbent, semi-recumbent, supine, and prone positions while receiving biofeedback resistance forces to improve neurological and muscular health. The system restores core stability neuromuscular systems, including improved function of the hip and shoulder joints.

Claims

1. A system for exercise comprising apparatus equipment including of two elongated boards, said boards comprising an upper board and a lower board each having opposing first and second board end, with a pivot member sandwiched about midway between said upper and lower boards and a load source installed on the upper and lower boards proximal to either the first board ends or the second board ends, said load source is an elastic member, said load source operative to urge either of the first board ends or the second board ends in contact toward each other, wherein; said two boards, pivot member, and load source system are configured to require exercise work to overcome said load source by pitch motion of the upper board, causing said upper board to pivot like a playground “teeter totter”; said upper board configured to provide a platform to perform exercise work, said platform configured to support a torso of a person performing said pitch pivot motion exercise by overcoming said load source to oscillate said upper board about in said pitch motion; said platform configured for exercise to be performed in any one of the list of recumbent, semi-recumbent, supine, and prone positions.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, when increased exercise work force are applied to said upper board to overcome; a first load source, said first load source operatively couples right-side-ends of said elongated boards nominally together, said first load source urging said right-side-ends together, and when exercise force exceeds said first load source force, said upper board pivots about said pivot member from an inclined plane position to a horizontal plane position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein, increased exercise work forces are applied to said upper board to overcome; a second load source, said second load source operatively couples left-side-ends of said elongated boards nominally together, said second load source urging said left-side-ends together, and when exercise force exceeds said second load source, said upper board pivots about said pivot member from a horizontal plane position to an inclined plane position.

4. The system of claim 1, said system further comprises: a vibrator is configured to transfer vibration forces through said upper board to the person; said vibrator is installed at any one of the locations from the following list; said vibrator is integrated into or affixed to said pivot member; and said vibrator is affixed to said upper board; wherein, said vibrator is configured to transfer vibration forces through said upper board to said torso of said person.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said pivot member is at least one from the list of: a cylinder and a triangle.

6. An exercise apparatus system for a person with said system having two elongated boards and pivot member, said exercise system comprising: a first board, said first board having an elongated shape and having; a first surface; a second surface; a first end; and a second end; a second board, said second board having an elongated shape and having; a third surface; a fourth surface; a third end; a fourth end; a first pivot member, said first pivot member is operative to functionally allow pitch rotation of said first board about said first pivot member; one of: a first load source, said first load source is an elastic band operative to urge said first and third ends in contact toward each other; or a second load source, said second load source is an elastic band operative to urge said second and fourth ends in contact toward each other; and wherein, said first board substantially overlaps said second board; said second and third surfaces face each other; said fourth surface is nominally static and in contact with a floor surface; said first end nominally opposes said third end and said second end nominally opposes said fourth end; said first surface is configured to nominally support the torso of said person resting on said first surface while in at least one from the list of recumbent, semi-recumbent, supine, and prone positions; said first pivot member is sandwiched about midway between said first and said second boards and; said first pivot member is in contact with said second and said third surfaces.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first load source is banded around said first end of said first board and said third end of said second board, said first load source operatively urges said first and third ends in contact toward each other; when in use said system is configured for a person resting in semi-recumbent position on said first surface to apply muscle force, said muscle force opposes said first load force and as said muscle force exceeds said first load source force said first and third ends progressively decouple and said first board operably undergoes said pitch motion as said first board pivots about said first pivot member.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said second load source is banded around said second end of said first board and said fourth end of said second board, said second load source operatively urges said second and fourth ends in contact toward each other; when in use said system is configured for a person resting in prone position on said first surface applies muscle force, said muscle force opposes said second load source force and as said muscle force exceeds said second load source said second and fourth ends progressively decouple and said first board operably undergoes said lateral pitch motion as said first board pivots about said first pivot member.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a third load source, said third load source is an elastic band, said third load source is operative to fasten said first pivot member to at least one of: said second surface of said first board, and said third surface of said second board.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a second pivot member, said second pivot member located on said fourth surface of said second board, said second pivot member operative to provide roll axis motion about longitudinal axis of said system.

11. The system of claim 6, further includes; a second pivot member, said second pivot member located on said fourth surface of said second board, said second pivot member operative to provide roll axis motion about longitudinal axis of said system, and a fourth load source, said fourth load source operative to fasten said second pivot member to said fourth surface of said second board.

12. The system of claim 6, further includes; a second pivot member, said second pivot member located on said fourth surface of said second board, said second pivot member operative to provide roll axis motion about longitudinal axis of said system, wherein, said system is configured for a person to perform exercise work; the said exercise work requires resisting unbalanced roll motions produced by said second pivot member and causing said system to nominally be unstable, when said second pivot member is installed.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein, a vibrator is operative to transfer vibration forces through said first board; said vibrator is located at least one of the locations from the following list; said vibrator is integrated into or affixed to said first pivot member; said vibrator is affixed to said second surface of said first board; and wherein, said vibration is configured to be imparted upon person performing exercise.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein said first pivot member is at least one from the list of: a cylinder and a triangle.

15. A method for exercise comprising the structure of: a first board, said first board having an elongated shape and having; a first surface; a second surface; a first end; and a second end; a second board having an elongated shape and having; a third surface; a fourth surface; a third end; a fourth end; a first pivot member, said first pivot member is operative to functionally allow pitch rotation of said first board about said first pivot member like a playground “teeter totter”; and one of; a first load source, said first load source is an elastic band operative to urge said first and third ends in contact toward each other; or a second load source, said second load source is an elastic band operative to urge said second and fourth ends in contact toward each other; and wherein, said method configured to provide a plurality of exercise motions for a person from any of the following list of exercises; a first exercise, said first exercise is performed using the configuration of a person lying semi-recumbent on said first surface of said first board with base of torso proximal to said first end and head proximal to said second end, then using muscles with feet pushing on the floor to overcome first load source, said person oscillates said first board through said pitch motion, between any one of the following positions; in step one a first position is achieved, in said first position said first board forms an inclined plane relative to said second board, with said first and third ends proximal to each other and said second and forth ends distal from each other; in step two a second position is achieved, in said second position first board is substantially coplanar with said second board, and in; a second exercise, said second exercise is performed using the configuration of a person lying prone on said first surface of said first board with base of torso proximal to said first end and head proximal to said second end, then using leg muscles and feet to overcome said second load source, said person oscillates said first board through said pitch motion, between any one of the following positions; in step three a third position is achieved, in said third position said first board forms an inclined plane relative to said second board, with said first and third ends distal to each other and said second and forth ends proximal from each other; in step four a fourth position is achieved, in said second position first board is substantially coplanar with said second board.

16. The method of claim 15 operably configured to require increased exercise work forces to be applied to said first board as an exercise step five to overcome; a first load source, said first load source operatively couples right-side-ends of said elongated boards nominally together and when exercise force exceeds said first load source said said first board pivots from an inclined plane position to a horizontal plane position.

17. The method of claim 15 operably configured to require increased exercise work forces to be applied to said first board as an exercise step six to overcome; a second load source, said second load source operatively couples left-side-ends of said elongated boards nominally together and when exercise force exceeds said second load source said said first board pivots from a horizontal plane position to an inclined plane position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 presents a right side view of the exercise equipment in a first position.

(3) FIG. 2 presents a right side view of the exercise equipment in a third position.

(4) FIG. 3 presents a front end view of the exercise equipment, showing location of second pivot member. (Exercise person not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 for purposes of clarity).

(5) The following reference numerals are used to indicate the parts and environment of the invention on the drawings: 2 exercise equipment, exercise apparatus, machine, system; 4 first board, upper board, first elongated member; 6 first end of first board, right-side end of first board, first end; 8 second end of first board, left-side end of first board, second end; 10 top surface of first board, upper surface, first surface; 12 bottom surface of first board, lower surface, second surface; 14 second board, lower board, second elongated member; 16 third end of second board, right-side end of second board, third end; 18 fourth end of second board, left-side end of second board, second end; 20 top surface of second board, top surface, third surface; 23 third load source, load source, elastic band, elastic cord 22 bottom surface of second board, bottom surface, fourth surface; 25, 25′ load source vibrator, vibrator, vibration source 24 first pivot member; 26 first load source, first elastic band, first elastic chord; 28 first pivot motion; first pivot axis, first lateral axis, first lateral axis pitch direction; lateral pitch axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal pitch axis; 30 second load source, second elastic band, second elastic chord; 32 second pivot member; 34 second pivot motion; second pivot axis, second longitudinal axis, second longitudinal pitch direction; longitudinal pitch axis that is orthogonal to the lateral pitch axis; 35 fourth load source, load source, elastic band, elastic cord

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

(7) Referring to FIG. 1, a sketch showing the exercise apparatus system 2 comprising a first board 4, with first board 4 having a first end 6, a second end 8, a first surface 10, and a second surface 12. System 2 further comprises a second board 14, with second board 14 having a third end 16, a fourth end 18, a third surface 20, and a fourth surface 22. System 2 further comprises a first pivot member 2 that is located about mid-distance between first board 4 and second board 14; first pivot member 2 is operative to allow board 4 to travel full range of first pivot motion 28. The system 2 is depicted in a first position configuration, with first board 4 in an inclined plane position. From the first position, board 4 can pivot in a first pivot motion 28 about first pivot member 24. Pivot motion 28 depicted is oscillatory, allowing first pivot motion to be in either rotational direction to accommodate exercise motion repetitions. Fourth surface 22 of board 14 remains nominally horizontal and statically in contact with a floor surface (floor surface not shown for clarity).

(8) Load source 23 is an elastic member or band attached to first board 4 and wrapped over first pivot member 24, allowing load source 23 to be operative to secure member 24 to surface second surface 12 of first board 4. A first vibratory member 25 is attached to second surface 12 of first board 4 or alternately a second vibratory member 25′ is integrated into first pivot member 24, allowing either vibrator to operatively function as a vibrator source that imparts vibration energy through first board 4. This configuration allows a person with torso resting on first surface 10 of first board 4 to experience vibration energy from vibratory members 25 or 25′.

(9) Still referring to FIG. 1, in use a person (not show for clarity) uses system 2 by lying semi-recumbent on first board surface 10 with base of their torso proximal to the first end 6 of first board 4 and their head proximal to the second end 8 of first board 4. Then the person commences the previously described first exercise.

(10) Still referring to FIG. 1, to provide additional resistive exercise muscle work force a first load source 26 is shown encompassed around the distal ends 6 and 16 of boards 4 and 14; respectively. Load source 26 is operative to urge ends 6 and 16 towards each other, further resisting exercise muscle work force required to tilt or pivot board 4 through pivot motion 28. Load source 26 is considered optional to the function of system 2 and only serves to augment the exercise experience.

(11) Referring to FIG. 2, a sketch showing the exercise apparatus system 2 is depicted in a third position configuration, with first board 4 substantially coplanar to second board 14. Pivot motion 28 is depicted is oscillatory, allowing first pivot motion to be in either rotational direction to accommodate exercise motion repetitions. In use a person (not show for clarity) uses system 2 by lying prone on first board 4 surface 10 with base of their torso proximal to the first end 6 of first board 4 and their head proximal to the second end 8 of first board 4. Then the person commences the previously described second or third exercises.

(12) Still referring to FIG. 2, to provide additional resistive exercise muscle work force a second load source 30 is shown encompassed around the distal ends 8 and 18 of boards 4 and 14; respectively. Load source 30 is operative to urge ends 8 and 18 towards each other, further resisting exercise muscle work force required to tilt or pivot board 4 through pivot motion 28. Load source 30 is considered optional to the function of system 2 and only serves to augment the exercise experience.

(13) Referring to FIG. 3, a sketch showing the exercise apparatus system 2 comprising a first pivot member 24 sandwich between first board 4 and second board 14. Second pivot member 32 sandwich between second board 14 and floor surface (not shown for clarity). When in use, first pivot member 24 is operative to produce first pivot motion 28 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and second pivot member 32 is operative to produce second pivot motion 34. Pivot member 32 is considered optional to the function of system 2 and only serves to augment the exercise experience. Further in use, when the person exercises on system 2, oscillating in motions 28 and 34 about pivot members 24 and 32; respectively. When a person exercises from the semi-recumbent and prone kinematic positions, through the range of pivot motions 28 and 34, they engage proprioceptors that communicate between neurological and muscular systems to strengthen and improve the operating function of core-body abdominal and gluteal muscles.

(14) Load source 35 is an elastic member or band attached to second board 14 and wrapped over second pivot member 32, allowing load source 35 to be operative to secure member 32 to second board 14.

(15) A person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that the invention has applications for human health. This invention could be incorporated into other machines without limitation. Further, provided these teachings many variations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Some variations include different body positions while exercising while other variations increase the exercise challenge by adding load sources to increase exercise muscle resistance forces or by adding second pivot member; however, other variations are allowed without limit. All such variations are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Further still, although some embodiments are shown to include certain features, the applicant specifically contemplates that any feature disclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any other feature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated that any feature may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the invention.