CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application 62/168,702, filed on May 29, 2015, and US Utility Patent Application 15/099, 153, filed on April 14, 2016, both incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to exercise devices, and more particularly to a weight lifting exercise device. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

So-called "tire flipping" exercises are gaining in popularity and are used principally outdoors or in large, open indoor spaces where there is room to flip a relatively large, weighted tire over onto its other side. However, many gyms and weight rooms do not have enough open space to dedicate to such an exercise, and as a result do not offer such an exercise.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that provides the benefits of a weighted tire- flipping type exercise in a fixed, relatively small space. Such a needed invention would allow for the weight of the object being flipped from one side to another to be adjusted, and would provide for easily gripping of the object. Such a needed device would be intuitive to use, and would be durable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is an exercise apparatus for use by a person on a support surface. The apparatus comprises a base that is adapted for resting on the support surface at a bottom side thereof. A top side of the base has a rigid support mechanism projecting upwardly therefrom.

A weight has at least a first side and a second side. The weight is adapted for rotational engagement with the support mechanism of the base between a first position on one side of the support mechanism, wherein the weight rests with the first side thereof contacting the support surface and/or the base, and a second position on an opposing side of the support mechanism, wherein the weight rests with the second side thereof contacting the support surface and/or the base. Preferably the weight takes the form of one-half of an elastomeric tire, each end of which is fixed with the support mechanism at a weight support bracket.

Preferably the top side of the base includes a plurality of standoffs projecting upwardly therefrom. Each standoff is adapted to contact and support the weight when in either the first position or the second position. As such, a gap is defined between the weight and the base to facilitate the gripping of the weight by the person.

Preferably either the weight or the weight support bracket further includes at least one auxiliary weight support, such as a weight post, adapted to receive at least one auxiliary weight thereon, such as a standard barbell weight. The weight post preferably further includes a locking mechanism that allows selective locking of the auxiliary weight onto the weight post.

In some embodiments, the weight further includes at least one instrument support adapted to receive an electronic instrument, such as a smart phone, adapted to record data of the person using the exercise apparatus. At least one rope tie may be fixed with the support mechanism or the base for facilitating tying of a rope (not shown) to the exercise apparatus for allowing the person to perform rope pulling exercises. A device that provides the benefits of a weighted tire-flipping type exercise in a fixed, relatively small space. Such a needed invention would allow for the weight of the object being flipped from one side to another to be adjusted, and would provide for easily gripping of the object. Such a needed device would be intuitive to use, and would be durable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrated with a weight in a lowered position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, illustrated with the weight on one side of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, illustrated with the weight on an opposing side of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, illustrating a person in position to lift the weight of the device; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, illustrating a person having lifted the weight and the weight flipping over to the opposing side of the apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising," and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to." Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words "herein," "above," "below" and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word "or" in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. When the word "each" is used to refer to an element that was previously introduced as being at least one in number, the word "each" does not necessarily imply a plurality of the elements, but can also mean a singular element. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exercise apparatus 10 for use by a person 20 (FIGS. 5 and 6) on a support surface 15. The apparatus 10 comprises a rigid base 30 that is adapted for resting on the support surface 15 at a bottom side 31 thereof (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). A top side 39 of the base 30 has a rigid support mechanism 40 projecting upwardly therefrom. The base 30 may further include a mounting system 180 for fixedly mounting the base 30 to the support surface 15, such as at least one aperture 181 through the base 30 and mechanical fasteners 182 for fixing the base 30 to the support surface 15 therewith. The base 30 and support mechanism 40 are both preferably made out of a strong, durable metallic material, but could also be made of wood material or other suitably strong, rigid and durable material.

A weight 50 has at least a first side 51 and a second side 59, preferably each side 51,59 being resilient and integrally formed. The weight 50 is adapted for rotational engagement with the support mechanism 40 of the base 30 between a first position 60 on one side 41 of the support mechanism 40, wherein the weight 50 rests with the first side 51 thereof contacting the support surface 15 and/or the base 30 (FIG. 3), and a second position 70 on an opposing side 49 of the support mechanism 40, wherein the weight 50 rests with the second side 59 thereof contacting the support surface 15 and/or the base 30 (FIG. 4). Preferably the weight 50 takes the form of one-half of an elastomeric tire (FIGS. 5 and 6) having the two ends 55, each end 55 fixed with the support mechanism 40 at a weight support bracket 130 (FIG. 2). Such a weight support bracket 130 is preferably a rigid, semi-circular bracket fixed within the weight 50, each end 135 thereof projecting through one end 55 of the weight 50 for engagement with the support mechanism 40. In some embodiments the base 30 includes a plurality of feet 80 for contacting the support surface 15 and supporting the base 30 above the support surface 15. Any of the feet 80 may be vertically adjustable such as by screw thread (not shown) to accommodate uneven support surfaces 15 so that the exercise apparatus 10 is level and stable. The base 30 is adapted for supporting the weight 50 above the support surface 15 when the weight is in either the first position 60 or the second position 70. In such an embodiment, at least one of the feet 80 may include the mounting system 180 for fixedly mounting the base 30 to the support surface 15.

Preferably the top side 39 of the base 30 includes a plurality of standoffs 90 projecting upwardly therefrom. Each standoff 90 is adapted to contact and support the weight 50 when in either the first position 60 or the second position 70. As such, a gap 100 is defined between the weight 50 and the base 30 to facilitate the gripping of the weight 50 by the person 20.

In some embodiments the support mechanism 40 includes two upright supports 110 projecting above the top side 39 of the base 30. Each upright support 1 10 includes at a top end 1 18 thereof a pivot 120 adapted for engaging opposing sides 55 of the weight 50 and allowing the weight 50 to flip between the first and second positions 60,70. Preferably each upright support 1 10 is of sufficient height that the weight 50 may rotate at least 180-degrees between the first and second positions 60,70 (FIGS. 3 and 4). In some embodiments (not shown) the exercise apparatus 10 includes only a single upright support 1 10 projecting above the top side 39 of the base 30, the pivot 120 of which engages a central portion of the weight 50. Preferably either the weight 50 or the weight support bracket 130 further includes at least one auxiliary weight support 140, such as a weight post 150, adapted to receive at least one auxiliary weight 18 thereon, such as a standard barbell weight (FIG. 2). The weight post 150 is positioned on the weight 50 or the weight support bracket 130 to prevent the auxiliary weight 18 from contacting the base 30 or the support surface 15 when the weight 50 is in or between the first and second positions 60,70. The weight post 150 preferably further includes a locking mechanism 160, such as a locking collar 160, that allows selective locking of the auxiliary weight 18 onto the weight post 150. Alternately the locking mechanism 160 may be a locking pin arrangement (not shown), or the like, as is or becomes known in the art.

In some embodiments, the weight 50 further includes at least one instrument support 170 adapted to receive an electronic instrument 19, such as a smart phone, adapted to record data of the person 20 using the exercise apparatus 10. At least one rope tie 190 (FIG. 2) may be fixed with the support mechanism 40 or the base 30 for facilitating tying of a rope (not shown) to the exercise apparatus for allowing the person 20 to perform rope pulling exercises.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the weight 50 may take the form of something other than a tire. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims. Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference.

Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above "Detailed Description." While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.