POSTERIOR CHAIN EXERCISE APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USING SAME

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/720,423 filed Nov. 14, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to exercise and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to posterior chain training.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Sorinex® original Frankenhyper™ was created in 2013 and combines the Glute Ham with a pendulum hip extension. Plate storage, ball storage and a tab for handles can be added that allow a user to increase upper body work capacity. An advantage of the Frankenhyper™ posterior chain training machine is that it only takes up a few square feet of space in a workout facility. The Frankenhyper™ allows for the entire rear of the body to be worked through contraction and decompression. The pendulum style weight arm is used for swinging hip extensions and can also be used for upper body movements like rows, face pulls, bicep curls, triceps, pull thru's, presses, TKE's, YTM's.

While very useful, the original Frankenhyper™ can be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an improved posterior chain exercise apparatus having a frame with two vertical struts, comprising: two rotation adjustment plates, each one of the rotation adjustment plates attached on an outside of each one of the vertical struts, respectively; two band arms, each one of the band arms attached to each one of the vertical struts, respectively, wherein the rotation adjustments plates are disposed between the band arms and the vertical struts; and, wherein the two band arms are rotatable with respect to the rotation adjustment plates.

In an embodiment of the invention, the two band arms are rotatable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration.

In an embodiment of the invention, the band arms have a plurality of adjustment holes.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the band arms have a slidable band peg bracket which is moveable along the band arms and reversibly secured to the band arms by a pin inserted into one of the adjustment holes.

In an embodiment of the invention, the pin is a pop-pin.

In an embodiment of the invention, the slidable band peg bracket further comprises at least one band peg.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the band arms has at least one band peg.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the band arms has a mounting post for insertion into an aperture on one of the vertical struts to rotatably attach the band arm to the vertical strut and define an axis of rotation of the band arm.

In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a pin for reversibly securing each of the band arms with respect to each of the rotation adjustment plates, respectively.

In an embodiment of the invention, the band arms are expandable and/or retractable in length.

In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises at least one exercise band disposed on the two band arms such that the exercise band is suspended across the two band arms.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example, are not necessarily to scale and are for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an improved posterior chain exercise apparatus, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the improved posterior chain exercise apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a band arm, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of a rotation adjustment plate, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the improved posterior chain exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 with the band arms deployed, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and,

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the improved posterior chain exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 with a band placed on the band arms, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to exercise and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to posterior chain training.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an improved posterior chain exercise apparatus 100, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It should be understood that the invention described herein is an improvement of the Sorinex® original Frankenhyper™ 150 which is sold by Sorinex Exercise Equipment, Inc. In some embodiments of the invention, the improvement includes the addition of two band arms 102i, 102ii, one of each side of the apparatus 100. The band arms 102i, 102ii are rotatable from a fully stowed configuration, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, through to a fully deployed configuration, such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Adjustable rotation of the band arms 102i, 102ii is facilitated by corresponding rotation adjustment plates 104i, 104ii, which also comprise a portion of the improvement to the Frankenhyper™ 150, in an embodiment of the invention, described in more detail with respect to FIG. 4.

The Frankenhyper™ 150, which is improved by the invention described herein, comprises a frame including two vertical struts 152i, 152ii that, among other things, support the pad 606 (described in more detail with respect to FIG. 6) and, ultimately, the user during exercise. The rotation adjustment plates 104i, 104ii, as well as the band arms 102i, 102ii (via their mounting posts 302, described in more detail with respect to FIG. 3), are attached to the vertical struts 152i, 152ii, to connect them to the frame of the Frankenhyper™ 150.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the improved posterior chain exercise apparatus 100, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. An embodiment of the band arms 102i, 102ii is shown with a plurality of adjustment holes 202, where the position of a slidable band peg bracket 206 on the band arm 102i, 102ii can be adjusted by moving the band peg bracket up and/or down on the band arm 102i, 102ii and reversibly securing it using a pin 204, such as a pop pin, which is inserted through the band peg bracket 206 and into one of the adjustment holes 202. In some embodiments of the invention, there is more than one band peg on the band peg bracket 206.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a band arm 102, which could be band arm 102i or band arm 102ii, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The band arm 102 is provided with a mounting post 302 which, in some embodiments of the invention, is inserted through an aperture in the apparatus 100 to rotatably “attach” the band arm 102 to the apparatus 100, and wherein the mounting post 302 defines an axis of rotation 402 shown and described in more detail with respect to FIG. 4.

The band arm 102 is provided with a pin 304, optionally spring-loaded like a pop pin, which is used so reversibly secure the band arm 102 with respect to a rotation adjustment plate 104i, 104ii and, thus, the apparatus 100.

In some embodiments of the invention, the band arm 102 is provided with at least one band peg 306 which is used for positioning an exercise band 602 on the band arm 102. For example, the exercise band 602 is positioned between two band pegs 306 to prevent it from slipping up and down on the band arm 102. Optionally, there is only one band peg 306 to prevent the exercise band from 602 from slipping up or down on the band arm 102. Optionally, a plurality of band pegs 306 are provided to the band arm 102 to provide multiple, selectable locations for the exercise band 602 on the band arm 102. In some embodiments of the invention, the multiple, selectable locations are provided so that the height of the exercise band 602 can be adjusted to match a desired position on the user's chest during use.

In some embodiments of the invention, the band arm 102i, 102ii is expandable/retractable in length, for example, is telescoping.

FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of the rotation adjustment plate 104ii, which is a mirror image of rotation adjustment plate 104i located on the other side of the apparatus 100, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As described above, the mounting post of the band arm 102ii defines an axis of rotation 402, around which the band arm 102ii rotates so that the angle of the band arm 102ii with respect to the apparatus 100 can be adjusted from a fully stowed configuration to a fully deployed configuration and varying degrees of deployment in between. This angle variance is accomplished using a plurality of adjustment apertures 404 provided to the rotation adjustment plate 104ii, through which the pin 304 is inserted to make the desired angle selection.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the improved posterior chain exercise apparatus 100 with the band arms 102i, 102ii in a deployed configuration, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the improved posterior chain exercise apparatus 100 with the exercise band 602 placed on the band arms 102i, 102ii, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, a user of the apparatus 100 secures their feet in between foot pads 604 while placing their knees on pads 606, with the user facing towards the exercise band 602 and, in some embodiments of the invention, with the exercise band 602 positioned across the user's chest. In use, the user leans forward, exerting the user's chest towards the exercise band 602, in direction 608. The resistance of the band in direction 608 provides exercise, while also providing assistance in the opposite direction 610 as the user returns to the start position. It should be understood that more than one exercise band 602 could be used with the apparatus 100.

It should also be understood that in some embodiments of the invention, the user could be positioned with the user's back towards the exercise band. For example, the user sits on pads 606 and leans back to exert pressure backwards on the exercise band 602, in direction 608.

Optionally, more than one band is used to provide additional resistance and/or assistance to exercise movement by the user.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.

The term “consisting of” means “including and limited to”.

The term “consisting essentially of” means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number “to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.