The present invention relates to exercise apparatus, for example, weight lifting apparatus incorporating a bench. In particular the invention relates to exercise apparatus incorporated with a bed frame.

Many people are today health conscious and set aside time to take exercise at health clubs which have a gymnasium. The gymnasium will have a variety of exercise apparatus available such as weight lifting apparatus, rowing and cycling machines and exercise benches.

Such apparatus can also be set up and used at home, thereby avoiding frequent visits to a gymnasium. However the apparatus tends to be bulky and space at home can be limited, precluding the possibility of setting up exercise apparatus permanently, for example in a bedroom.

The present invention provides an exercise apparatus which is incorporated with a bed frame.

The invention further provides a combined exercise apparatus and

bed frame which can be stowed against a wall, the bed frame and exercise apparatus being usable selectively.

The invention also provides an apparatus comprising an exercise apparatus and a pivotable bed frame, the exercise apparatus comprising a pivotable bench, and a pivotable weight support structure, the bench and the support structure being pivotable with respect to the bed frame.

The weight support structure can be pivoted to the bed or to a wall.

The weight support structure can include a wire guide, having at least one pivotable arm.

A wire can be located in the wire guide having at one end a removable handle and a removable weight pan at the other end.

The bench can be pivotally attached to a wall or the bed frame and the bed frame is pivotally attached to a wall.

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The bench can have legs pivotally attached to a seat and the bench can have a head rest or grip.

The frame of the bed can support the weight mounting structure and can itself be moveable between a horizontal position wherein

it serves to support a mattress and an upright position wherein it serves to support the weight mounting structure in a operative condition.

A moveable support can be provided arranged to support either the bed in its operative condition, or the weight mounting structure in its operative condition.

In combination with the frame there can be provided a bench disposable in an operative exercise position relative to the frame or stowable beneath the frame.

There can be a connection between exercise apparatus of the bench and the weigh mounting mechanism.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which,

Figure 1 shows an elevation of one form of apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view on arrow A in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but with the apparatus in a partially stowed state;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 with the apparatus in a fully stowed state, and a bed in a usable state; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of apparatus of the invention in its bed configuration;

Figure 6 is a similar view with the apparatus in its exercise configuration;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the apparatus in its exercise configuration; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged end elevation showing the apparatus in its bed configuration.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first preferred exercise apparatus (10) is incorporated with a bed frame (12) . The bed frame (12) comprises two side members (14) , (16) , legs (18) and (20) , the members (14) and (16) being connected together at one end by a cross member (22) . The side members (14) and (16) are pivotally connected about axis A-A to a support member (24) which is attached to a wall (26) .

The exercise apparatus (10) comprises a bench (28) pivotally attached to the members (14) and (16) about axis B-B. The bench (28) includes a seat (30), legs (32), (34) which are pivotally

attached to the seat (30) about axis C-C, leg braces (34) , and a head rest or grip (36) attached to the legs (32) and (34) .

The apparatus (10) also comprises a frame (38) which is attached to the side members (14) and (16) of the bed and can also pivot about axis A-A.

The frame (38) includes an arch (40) and a wire guide comprising a tube (42) and a two part arm (44) , (46) , the two parts being pivotally attached to one another and the part (44) is pivotally attached to the tube (42) . A wire (48) extends through the wire guide terminating at one end in a handle (50) and at the other end in a weight pan (not shown) upon which weights (52) can be loaded.

Figure 3 shows the apparatus (10) in a partially stowed condition. The bed frame (12) is pivoted on axis A-A against the wall (26) and is clamped in position, and the frame (38) is also clamped to the wall (26) , with the two part arm extending outwardly with the part (46) of the arm pivoted partly towards its stowed position. The weight pan and weights (52) , together with the handle (50) have been removed for stowing under the bed (12) or elsewhere. The bench (28) is shown partly stowed with the legs (32) and (34) being partially collapsed.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus (10) with the bed frame (12) with

a mattress (54) and a pillow (56) ready for use. The exercise apparatus is fully stowed. The bench (28) (not shown) is stowed against the wall (26) and the frame (38) is stowed in a collapsed condition under the bed frame (12) . The weights (52) and the handle (50) can be stowed under the bed or elsewhere as required.

When it is required to use the exercise apparatus the mattress (54) , pillow (56) and any bed clothes are removed from the bed frame and the frame is pivoted about the axis A-A and clamped to the wall (26) . The bench (28) is rotated about axis B-B and legs (32) and (34) are pivoted about axis C-C and locked in position with the legs resting on the floor as shown in Figure 1.

The two-part arms (44) , (46) of the frame (38) are pivoted and locked in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The handle (50) is attached to the wire (48) which has been left in the wire guide and weights (52) are attached to the weight pan as required. The apparatus is then ready for use as an exercise apparatus.

Referring now to figures 5 - 8, it will be seen that a second preferred embodiment of apparatus (60) can be used either as a bed (figure 5) or as an exercise apparatus or gymnasium (figure 6) . The apparatus (60) includes a bed frame (60) which can support a mattress (62) . Straps or like restraints (63) are provided to retain the mattress and any other bed clothing in

close associated with the frame during its disposal in the gymnasium configuration.

The frame (61) has a leg (64) at one end and adjacent its other end it is supported on a pivotable support (65) which has a pair of right angled side members (66) pivoted to sides of the frame (61) at (67) . The side members (66) are connected to base members (68) and the connection is reinforced by diagonal struts (69) . Beneath the bed frame (in the bed configuration of the apparatus) is mounted a relatively conventional weight mounting structure (70).

Also shown in figure 5 is a bench (71) which has a support frame (72) and a padded upper surface (73) , at one end which is a leg exercise (74) .

Figure 6 illustrates the apparatus of the invention its gymnasium configuration, wherein the bed frame (61) extends vertically and the straps (63) serve to secure the mattress and any associated bed clothing in close proximity to the frame (61) . The leg (64) extends horizontally from the top of the frame (61) and acts as a cantilever arm, being additionally supported by vertical rails (75) . The side members (66) of the support (65) have their longer limbs arranged parallel to the frame (61) and their base members (68) horizontal and support the apparatus in its gymnasium configuration which is a free-standing condition

requiring no connection to wall or floor. A pin (76) (see figure 7) connects the support (65) and the frame (61) in one or other of the conditions of figures 5 and 6. In addition, one or more pins (76) can pass through the end of the frame (61) and engage with a cross piece of the support (65) .

The weight mounting structure (70) is, in itself, generally conventional and has a base (77) from which vertical rails (75) extend to the leg (64) . The rails (75) sliding support weight elements (78) . Lower springs (79) surround the rails (75) and act as dampers if the weight should travel downward rapidly. Each weight element (78) has a central aperture (not shown) and a bar (80) passes downwardly through the central apertures. The bar has a series of horizontally extending apertures and each weight element (78) has a similar aperture (81) . By inserting a pin (82) into one of the apertures (81) the number of weight elements (78) which is lifted upon vertical movement of the bar (80) can be adjusted at the user's will. The bar (80) is connected to a pulley (83) which is part of a pulley system including upper pulleys (84) , (85) and (86) and a lower pulley (97) . A steel cable or rope (88) is detachably securable to the apparatus, for

-r example to the frame unit (65) or pulley (97) by means of or adjacent a link (87) . The cable (88) passes from its attachment point up to pulley (84) down to pulley (83) back up to pulley (85) and over pulley (86) after which it is connected to a yoke (89) . A user pulling downwards on the yoke (89) raises the

selected weight elements (78) .

Bench (71) is united with the apparatus in its gymnasium configuration by its rear legs (90) engaging over upstanding pegs (91) on the support (65) . Positive locking such as by means of a pin or the like can be provided if desired. In this particular gymnasium configuration the user can be supported by the bench (71) and draw on the yoke (79) , raising selected ones of the weight elements (78) . Similar exercises can also be carried out as will be familiar to the expert in this field.

At its forward end the bench (71) is provided with the leg exerciser (74) including an upstanding nose (92) which pivotally mounts a depending arm (93) . A pair of padded leg cushions (94) extend laterally from the arm (93) . The lower end of the arm (93) is connected to a flexible cable (95) which is connectable to the link (87) by a link (96).

When disposed in this configuration a user can be supportive by the bench (71) and urge the leg cushions (94) away rom the frame pivoting about the nose (92) . This again causes selected ones

-c of the weight elements (78) to rise.

It will be appreciated that during use in either of the gymnasium configurations, it is important that the cable (88) is only acted upon from one end. When in the first configuration, a lower

anchorage for the lower free end of the cable (88) can be constituted by a frusto-conical stop (98) provided on the cable adjacent link (86) stop (98) can jam against pulley (97) . Similarly a stop (99) can be provided to restrain the upper end of the cable (88) , when the apparatus is used in the second gymnasium configuration.

The above apparatus of the invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto.

For example, the weight support apparatus (70) can be connected to items of exercise other than the yoke (89) and the leg exerciser (74) . For example, an arm pivoted to the frame about half way up its length and extending horizontally above the bench could carry a cross piece and be selectively connectable to the arm so that a user sitting or lying on the bench could raise the cross piece and exercise as though raising a barbell.

Instead of being a separate piece of apparatus the bench (71) could be pivotally connected to the bed frame and arranged and

-r adapted to fold during movement of the apparatus between its configurations.

Many other variations are possible within the scope of the following claims.

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lt will be appreciated that the apparatus described above enables an exercise apparatus to be erected in a bedroom without the need for space to be taken permanently by the apparatus.

The apparatus can be attached to a wall or floor or be free¬ standing.

An apparatus according to the invention can be used selectively as an exercise apparatus or as a bed.

All of the components of the apparatus according to the invention which pivot relatively to one another can be provided with locking means to secure against relative rotation whether in the stowed or erect positions.

The exercise apparatus and the bed can be clamped to the wall or floor of a room as necessary for stability and security.

Whilst the bench can be pivotally attached to a bed frame and a weight support structure can be pivotally attached to a wall, both the bench and the weight support structure can be pivoted

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In a further arrangement both the bench and the weight support structure can be pivoted to a wall as can the bed frame.