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Title:
APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING A PERSON WISHING TO DO SLT-UP EXERCISES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2008/001124
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Apparatus is described to assist with sit-up exercises. A base (1) carries a U-shaped channel (defined by walls 2, 3) which can receive a door. The end of the base remote from the channel carries a thin cylindrical ring section (4) which may, if desired, be padded inside and which receives the ankle or calf of a user. Because the base is hooked under the door by the channel formed of walls (2, 3), the user can then do sit-up exercises as desired.

Inventors:
DIAMOND CHRIS (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2007/002462
Publication Date:
January 03, 2008
Filing Date:
June 29, 2007
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
DIAMOND CHRIS (GB)
International Classes:
A63B23/02
Domestic Patent References:
WO2006014052A12006-02-09
Foreign References:
US4809971A1989-03-07
US4629179A1986-12-16
US5342274A1994-08-30
DE8805560U11988-06-09
US2050652A1936-08-11
US2050652A1936-08-11
US2425971A1947-08-19
US4182510A1980-01-08
US4185816A1980-01-29
US4166434A1979-09-04
US4629179A1986-12-16
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
GALLAFENT & CO (London EC1M 5UD, GB)
Download PDF:
Claims:

CLAlMS

1. Sit-up exercise apparatus comprising a pair of separate restraining units, each restraining unit consisting of a generally U-section portion adapted to be slid under a door with the facing sides of the legs of the U- section either side of the door, and an extension piece extending to one side of the U-section portion and carrying, at a position spaced from the U- section portion, a thin cylindrical section arranged to lie substantially parallel to the plane of the door, of a size sufficient to receive the ankle or lower calf of a user, and spaced from the U-section portion sufficiently to enable the cylindrical ring section to abut the shin of the user when the user's foot lies against the door.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the U-section portion is a short open channel with vertical sides and a flat base.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the inner facing sides of the U-section channel are lined.

4. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the U-section portion, the extension piece and the ring section are all made of sheet metal.

5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the U-section portion is made of sheet metal and the ring section is a flexible loop of leather or webbing.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the inward facing surfaces of the ring section are provided with resilient padding.

Description:

APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING A PERSON WISHING TO DO SlT-UP EXERCISES

This invention relates to apparatus for assisting a person wishing to do sit-up exercises.

In order to do sit-up exercises, it is necessary for the feet or ankles to be held down. When using gym apparatus, this is easily achieved by appropriate design. In the past, suggestions have been made for more compact apparatus which is easy to use at home.

In particular, US-A-2050652 discloses a pair of stirrups which may be used to hold the ankles down and which are fixed to a common support member which has an extending flange for positioning below a door in order to stop the stirrups rising. US-A-2425971 discloses a bar below which the feet may be engaged and which may either be permanently affixed to a skirting board or which, by means of a pair of brackets and a U-shaped channel, may be slid below a door. US-A-4182510 discloses a platform adapted to engage under a door with an extended sloping surface projecting one side of the door, on which a strap is located into which the user's foot may be engaged. US-A-4185816 and US-A-4166434 disclose a different form of bar which may be fitted into a bracket, the bracket being clamped to a door.

US-A-4629179 discloses a pair of foot-holding devices, each of which may be clamped to a door, each having a convex surface on which the instep of the user rests, and a strap holding the foot on to the convex surface.

All these types of apparatus are not particularly comfortable to use and take up a substantial amount of space. Those which clamp on to a door cause damage to the door finish at the bottom of the door.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple apparatus which may be deployed rapidly when required for use, which is easily portable and which is comfortable for the user.

According to the present invention, sit-up exercise apparatus comprises a pair of separate restraining units, each of which consists of a generally U- section portion adapted to be slid under a door, with the facing sides of the legs of the U-section either side of the door, and an extension piece extending to one side of the U-section portion and carrying, at a position spaced from the U-section portion, a thin cylindrical ring section arranged to lie substantially parallel to the plane of the door, of a size sufficient to receive the ankle or lower calf of the user and spaced from the U-section position sufficiently to enable the cylindrical section to abut the shin of the user when the user's foot lies against the door.

The U-section portion is conveniently a short open channel and with vertical sides and a flat base and of internal width sufficient to enable the channel to be slid under a door of the maximum conventional thickness likely to be encountered in practice. The vertical sides of the channel should be sufficiently tall and wide to prevent much movement even if the thickness of the door is not very substantial. If desired, to preserve the finish on the door, the channel may be lined.

The cylindrical ring section is preferably a simple metal loop though it may

be, for example, a flexible loop of leather, webbing or the like. The inward- facing surface of the ring section can be provided with resilient padding for comfort.

By suitable design, the apparatus of the present invention may be produced as a pair of relatively light weight units which may be easily packed, in particular in luggage so that someone who wishes to exercise when travelling may easily carry the apparatus with them and deploy it in a hotel room quickly and easily in order to enable them to carry out an exercise routine involving sit-ups.

The invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows diagrammatically one of a pair of identical units constituting the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the device consists of a base plate 1 having a pair of parallel walls 2, 3 mounted at and adjacent one end respectively. The spacing between walls 2 and 3 corresponds to the greatest likely door thickness to be encountered.

At the end of base plate 1 opposite wall 3 there is mounted a cylindrical ring section 4 which is connected to the base 1 at its lowermost portion and, via link members 6 and 7, to the edges of base 1. The entire construction is made out of sheet steel, the thickness in particular of base 1 being sufficient to enable it to accept the forces likely to be encountered in use without bending deformation.

If desired, the facing surfaces of walls 2 and 3 and the interior surface of ring section 4 may be lined with suitable material, for example a textile fabric or plastics sheet or pad in order to reduce the risk of scuffing or scratching the door on the one hand and to increase comfort for the user on the other.

When it is desired to do sit-up exercises, two items as shown in the Figure are slid one after the other underneath a door, by sliding plates 2 and 3 along the base of the door, one each side. The distance between them is then adjusted to be comfortable for the user. The user then sits and inserts his or her feet through the ring section 4 so that the soles of the feet are adjacent wall 3, near the door and with the Achilles tendon extending away from the door. The ankle or lower calf then lies in the ring section 4, and the user is then in a position immediately to commence sit-up exercises.