Portable excercise assembly

Abstract

A portable exercise assembly structured to facilitate the performance of multiple exercises by a user, thereon and including a base and / or a mounting assembly either of which are capable of being selectively positioned between an operative position and a stored position and, when in the stored position are capable of being easily hand carried, with other associated components of the exercise assembly. When in the operative position, the base comprises a plurality of segments disposed in an end-to-end, elongated orientation. A resistance assembly comprising a plurality of resistance elements, preferably formed of an elastic material is connected to the base and / or to the mounting assembly as well as to a gripping assembly which is either attachable to various portions of the user's body or may be at least partially gripped by the user, such that the user exerts a force thereon so as to position the plurality of elastic elements between a stressed position and a non-stressed position, thereby exerting a variable range of forces on muscle group which are intended to be exercise. The gripping assembly includes one or more gripping bars having one or more cushions mounted thereon each having a retaining member, which comfortably and removably retains engagement with various portions of the user's body while the user selectively extends or retracts the plurality resistance elements.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of presently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 477,951 filed on Jan. 5, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a portable exercise assembly comprising a base and / or mounting assembly each structured to be selectively oriented in either an operative position or a collapsed position and made from a strong light weight material which, when in their collapsed position, are capable of being easily hand carried from location to location and when in their operative position are structured, in cooperation with a plurality of associated operative components, to allow a user to perform a full range of exercises involving substantially all of the major muscle groups. A resistance assembly is provided to offer sufficient resistance to satisfy both the more dedicated, as well as the more casual exercise or work-out enthusiast. DESCRIPTION...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention is directed towards a portable, light weight exercise assembly designed to facilitate the performance of a full range of body exercises in order to provide the desired exercise and resistance or stress to substantially all the major muscle groups of the body. In addition, the exercise assembly of the present invention and its associated components, offer sufficient resistance, when performing the above noted exercises, to satisfy the more sophisticated or dedicated exercise enthusiast, as well as the more casual user of exercise equipment.

[0019] Therefore, the various embodiments of the portable, exercise assembly of the present invention, are each structured to provide a complete body workout for body builders, as well as casual users of exercise equipment. Also, because of the ability to selectively position the base between the aforementioned stored position and operative position or otherwise at least partially disassemble the various components of the exercise assembly, it is capable of being easily hand carried from location to location. Further, the structure of the operative components associated with the exercise assembly emphasizes and facilitates the ability of a user to perform all exercises which work most if not all of the major muscle groups. Such exercises include, but are not necessarily limited to: leg presses, leg extensions, alternate leg curls, bench presses / dips, pull-ups, military presses, rowing motion, arm curls, triceps extensions, alternate hamstring flexes, and sit-ups. Of course, the aforementioned listing of exercises is not meant to be inclusive of all the different types of exercises capable of being performed. To the contrary the aforementioned exercises are intended to be representative only of a large number of different exercises. The portable, exercise assembly of the present invention can also be used to perform a variety of other exercises which may be individualized or customized by the user for purposes of working parts of the body not necessarily associated with the major muscle groups.

Problems solved by technology

While platforms and their associated support frames of the type set forth above are used in a variety of different exercise assemblies, for the performance of certain specified exercises, there are generally recognized disadvantages associated with such apparatus.

Such disadvantages are typically associated with, but are not necessarily limited to size, weight, and to a certain extent, instability.

Instability is a recognized disadvantage or even possible danger, particularly with exercise apparatus which supports the body engaging platform in a raised location above the ground, floor or other support surface on which such apparatus is normally positioned.

The recognized disadvantages associated with size and weight result in the inability of those utilizing such exercise equipment to travel with or easily re-locate a preferred exercise apparatus.

By way of example, one often finds that in a motel or hotel, there is no spa or gymnasium facility available.

On the other hand, when such physical exercise facilities are available, they are frequently operated only during somewhat limited hours of use, which prevents utilization of such facilities, except during conventional hours.

Such conventional periods of usage is often inconvenient for those traveling on business, since business hours are usually spent away from the hotel and the affiliated gymnasium or exercise equipment.

In addition, to the above, it is not uncommon for a “body builder” to prefer to workout in a certain amount of privacy or isolation, which is difficult, if not impossible, when using a public or semi-public facility, such as a gymnasium, hotel spa, etc.

Those associated with the design and manufacture of exercise equipment have recognized many of the types of disadvantages associated with the size and weight of existing equipment.

As a result, most sporting goods stores offer a relatively large choice of “body toners” and other exercise devices, which are portable, but which may be somewhat limited in the types of exercise and amount of resistance available while utilizing such equipment.

In addition, known portable machines, will usually be very limited in the amount of resistance available to the body builder when performing his exercise.

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