Exercise bench with enhancements that allow the obese, elderly, and physically challenged to participate in exercises performed on a conventional exercise bench

Abstract

An exercise bench that allows elderly, obese, and physically challenged individuals to participate in the same exercise regimens as younger, more agile athletes is provided. The exercise bench of the current invention comprises cushioned side supports that stabilize the individual during reclining and during exercise. Due to the nature of the exercises performed in the prone position, an exercise bench is generally narrow in order to allow freedom of movement for the Individual's arms. The narrow bench can provide stability challenges for elderly and obese individuals which the side support cushions address by providing the required stability without interfering with the individual's range of arm motion for exercising. The present invention also includes mechanical means to assist the user in reclining to a prone position, and returning to an upright sitting position. Many individuals who want to use a conventional exercise bench are prohibited from doing so because they lack the abdominal strength to lie down slowly from a sitting position, and return to a sitting position after exercising without assistance. The exercise bench of the current invention overcomes these obstacles.

Claims

1. An exercise bench comprising: a base plate and four attached legs; top and bottom cushion plates wherein said top cushion plate is adjustable from a prone position parallel to said bottom cushion plate, to an upright position perpendicular to said bottom cushion plate; top and bottom cushions attached to said top and bottom cushion plates; and side support assemblies adjustably attached to said top cushion plate that engage and stabilize the sides of users with varying body types without interfering with said users range of arm motion while exercising, and that are comprised of side support cushions, side support adjustment plates, side support brackets, and side support pins; wherein said side support adjustment plates and said side support cushions are laterally extensible from a narrow position wherein said side support cushions are touching said top cushion, to a wide position wherein said side support cushions are up to 12 inches away from said top cushion.

2. The exercise bench of claim 1 wherein said side support cushions are adjustably attached to said side support adjustment plates such that individuals of varying height can use said exercise bench.

3. An exercise bench comprising: a base plate and four attached legs; top and bottom cushion plates wherein said top cushion plate is adjustable from a prone position parallel to said bottom cushion plate to an upright position perpendicular to said bottom cushion plate; top and bottom cushions attached to said top and bottom cushion plates; side support assemblies adjustably attached to said top cushion plate that engage and stabilize the sides of users with varying body types without interfering with said users range of arm motion while exercising; and that are comprised of side support cushions, side support adjustment plates, side support brackets, and side support pins; and a rise/recline assist assembly comprised of a gas cylinder, two yokes, and two pins attached to said base plate and said top cushion plate that reduces the amount of body weight that must be overcome by the abdominal muscles of users of said exercise bench by causing said top cushion plate to adjust from a prone position parallel to said bottom cushion plate to an upright position perpendicular to said bottom cushion plate, such that said users can recline slowly to a prone position and return to a sitting position after exercising without assistance from other individuals.

4. The exercise bench of claim 3 wherein the force applied by said gas cylinder is adjustable between a minimum setting that provides 30 pounds of force, and a maximum setting that provides up to 200 pounds of force when said top cushion plate is horizontal and parallel to said bottom cushion plate.

5. The exercise bench of claim 3 wherein said four attached legs are angled outward from said base plate an amount sufficient to prevent tilting of said exercise bench when an individual weighing up to 300 pounds is using said exercise bench, and said side support assemblies are extended to a position where said side support cushions are 12 from said top cushion.

6. The exercise bench of claim 3 wherein said four attached legs are adjustable such that the height of the top surface of the bottom cushion from the floor is between 12 and 30.

7. The exercise bench of claim 3 further comprising a recline lock assembly comprised of a recline lock handle, and associated yoke and torsion spring, whereby the user of said exercise bench can release said rise/recline assist assembly while in the reclined position in order to return to a sitting position without assistance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the exercise bench of the current invention including all of the ancillary assemblies.

(2) FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the bench.

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the side support assembly, 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the side support assembly, 2.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side, cross sectional view of the side support pin assembly, 30.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of the recline lock assembly, 3.

(7) FIG. 7 is a rear view of the recline lock assembly, 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) Definitions

(9) As used herein, the term exercise means an activity requiring physical effort involving movement with or without the addition of heavy objects.

(10) As used herein, the term exercise bench means a flat or inclined surface on four legs, and in one or more sections on which an individual can exercise.

(11) As used herein, the term gas cylinder means a cylinder with an internal piston and actuator rod connected to the piston. The cylinder contains a compressible fluid that is compressed when pressure is applied to the actuator rod and piston. When the pressure is released, the compressible fluid applies a counter force to the piston and actuator rod, and thereby to any structure attached to them.

(12) As used herein, the term cushion means a soft object or part used to make something such as a seat or bed more comfortable.

(13) As used herein, the term pounds of force means the force applied by the gas cylinder when it is fully compressed. Since weight is a measure of the force applied by gravity to an object, the force applied by the gas cylinder will balance an object with an equivalent weight. For example, 50 pounds of force applied by the gas cylinder will counterbalance 50 pounds or an individual's weight, thereby reducing by 50 pounds the weight that must be overcome by an exercise bench user's abdominal muscles when reclining or sitting.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 1, a side elevation view of the entire adjustable exercise bench, 1, is shown, including its component assemblies: the side support assembly, 2, the recline lock assembly, 3, and the rise/recline assist assembly, 4. It also identifies some of the individual components, such as the top and bottom cushion plates, 5 and 6, the base plate, 7, the legs, 8, the feet, 9, the bottom cushion, 10, the top cushion, 11, the recline stop, 12, and the leg height adjust pin, 13. It illustrates the main features of the current invention, namely the side support arms that provide stability for the individual during exercise and the mechanical means incorporated to assist the user in reclining to a prone position and returning to an upright, sitting position.

(15) FIG. 2 is an elevation view from the rear of the adjustable bench assembly, 1, including, the side support cushions, 26, the longitudinal side support adjustment holes, 27, the vertical side support adjustment holes, 28, and the side support pin assembly, 30. The lateral side support holes allow the position of the side support cushions to be adjusted from a position where they are touching the top cushions, 11, to a position where they are separated from the top cushions by 12 inches in order to accommodate obese individuals. The vertical side support adjustment holes allow the side support cushions to be adjusted in a direction parallel to the main axis of the bench, to accommodate individuals of varying heights. Also identified are the components of the rise/recline assist assembly including, the two yokes, 21 and 23, the two pins, 24 and 25, that attach the rise/recline assist assembly to the top cushion plate, the base plate, 7, and the gas cylinder, 22, which provides the individual with assistance in lying down or sitting up on the exercise bench. The assistance force provided by the gas cylinder when the user is in the prone position can be varied from 20 to 200 pounds; more preferably 30 to 150 pounds; most preferably 30 to 100 pounds.

(16) FIG. 3 is an exploded view that provides detail of the side support assembly, 2, and includes the side support adjustment plate, 29, the side support pin assembly, 30, the side support brackets. 31 and 32, and the side support cushions, 26. This assembly is designed to adjust the side support cushions laterally to accommodate individuals of varying body types.

(17) FIGS. 4 and 5 detail the side support pin assembly, 30, and its components: the side support pin, 41, the compression spring, 42, and the spring housing, 43. It also illustrates the position of the side support pin assembly on the side support adjustment plate, 29.

(18) FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the recline lock assembly, 3, and its components: the yoke. 51, the torsion spring, 52, the recline lock handle, 53, and the pivot pin, 54. As the individual reclines to the prone position, the recline lock handle engages the base plate, 7, to resist the force applied by the gas cylinder, 4, and maintain the top cushion plate, 5, in the horizontal position. The handle is actuated to release the top cushion plate, 5, thereby allowing the rise/recline assist assembly to assist the individual to sit up on the bench.