Demountable multi-purpose exercise device

Abstract

A demountable multi-purpose exercise device including a pair of elongate plunger members, a central guide member having a pair of oppositely disposed portions for demountable telescopic engagement with the pair of elongate plunger members. Further included is a depressible resilient means disposed between the pair of elongate plunger members and the central guide member, operative to permit mutual contraction of the plunger members in response to opposing axial forces applied thereto. There is an elongate flexible member longitudinally looped about the exercise device in engagement with the pair of elongate plunger members. Further, there are included, for use with the exercise device an exercise apparatus comprising retractable spool members in cylindrical casings and elongate flexible members fixably attached and resiliently coiled about the spool members to be uncoiled in response to a force applied thereto.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device including 
 a) a pair of elongate plunger members, each having a first end portion and a second end portion;    b) a central guide member having a pair of oppositely disposed portions for demountable telescopic engagement with said second end portions of said pair of elongate plunger members; and    c) depressible resilient means disposed between said pair of elongate plunger members and said central guide member, operative to permit mutual contraction of said plunger members in response to opposing axial forces of at least a predetermined magnitude applied thereto via said first ends thereof.    
     
     
         2 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 1 , also including an elongate flexible member operative to be longitudinally looped about the remainder of said exercise device in engagement with said first end portions of said pair of elongate plunger members, and configured to be of a length so as to retain said pair of plunger members in engagement with said central guide member.  
     
     
         3 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 2 , also including means for selectably fastening said elongate flexible member to said first end portions of said pair of elongate plunger members.  
     
     
         4 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 2 , wherein said flexible member is formed as a continuous, endless loop.  
     
     
         5 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 2 , wherein said elongate flexible member is formed as a pair of elongate flexible elements.  
     
     
         6 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 2 , wherein said elongate flexible member is arranged to be demountably engaged to said first end portions of said plunger members such that, applying a transverse force to said flexible member, said elongate flexible member is operative to apply opposing axial forces to said first end portions of said elongate plunger members to permit mutual contraction of said plunger members.  
     
     
         7 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 2 , wherein said elongate flexible member includes at least one handhold disposed along a portion of said elongate flexible member, and affixed thereto, thereby to provide a means for gripping said elongate flexible member.  
     
     
         8 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 2 , wherein said elongate flexible member includes attached thereto an extended elongate flexible element so as to attach said extended elongate flexible element to a user's limbs.  
     
     
         9 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end portions of said elongate plunger members have handle elements disposed at said first end portions thereof, so as to facilitate a user applying opposing axial forces to said first end portions of said elongate plunger members.  
     
     
         10 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein said depressible resilient means includes at least one resilient means selected from the group comprising: 
 a) at least one helical spring;    b) at least one pair of concave resilient washers disposed in an opposing arrangement;    c) resilient foam polymer material; and    d) gas filled resilient container.    
     
     
         11 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein said depressible resilient means is disposed in at least one arrangement selected from the group comprising: 
 a) within at least one of said plunger members;    b) within said guide member;    c) external to at least one of said plunger members; and    d) external to said guide member.    
     
     
         12 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device including 
 a) an elongate plunger member, having a first end portion and a second end portion;    b) a guide member having a first end portion and a second end portion oppositely disposed such that said second end portion is formed for demountable telescopic engagement with said second end portion of said elongate plunger member; and    c) depressible resilient means provided between said elongate plunger member and said guide member, operative to permit mutual contraction of said elongate plunger member and said guide member in response to opposing axial forces applied thereto via said first end portion of said plunger member and said first end portion of said guide member.    
     
     
         13 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 12 , also including an elongate flexible member operative to be longitudinally looped about the remainder of said exercise device in engagement with said first end portion of said elongate plunger member and said guide member, and configured to be of a length so as to retain said pair of plunger members in engagement with said central guide member.  
     
     
         14 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 13 , also including means for selectably fastening said elongate flexible member to said first end portion of said elongate plunger member and said central guide member.  
     
     
         15 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 13 , wherein said elongate flexible member is formed as a continuous, endless loop.  
     
     
         16 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 13 , wherein said elongate flexible member is formed as a pair of flexible elements.  
     
     
         17 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 13 , wherein said elongate flexible member is arranged to be demountably engaged to said first end portion of said elongate plunger member and said first end portion of said guide member such that, applying a transverse force to said elongate flexible member, said elongate flexible member is operative to apply opposing axial forces to said first end portion of said elongate plunger member and to said first end portion of said guide member to permit mutual contraction of said elongate plunger member and said guide member.  
     
     
         18 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 12 , wherein said elongate flexible member includes at least one handhold disposed along a portion of said elongate flexible member, and affixed thereto, thereby to provide a means for gripping said elongate flexible member.  
     
     
         19 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 13 , wherein said elongate flexible member includes attached thereto an extended elongate flexible element so as to attach said extended elongate flexible element to a user's limbs.  
     
     
         20 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 12 , wherein said first end portion of said elongate plunger member and said first end portion of said guide member have handle elements disposed at said first end portions of said elongate plunger member and said first end portion of said guide member, so as to facilitate a user applying opposing axial forces to said first end of said elongate plunger member and to said first end portion of said guide member.  
     
     
         21 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 12 , wherein said depressible resilient means includes at least one resilient means selected from the group comprising: 
 a) at least one helical spring;    b) at least one pair of concave resilient washers disposed in an opposing arrangement;    c) resilient foam polymer material; and    d) gas filled resilient container.    
     
     
         22 . A demountable multi-purpose exercise device according to  claim 12 , wherein said depressible resilient means is disposed in at least one arrangement selected from the group comprising: 
 a) within said elongate plunger;    b) within said guide member;    c) external to said elongate plunger; and    d) external to said guide member.    
     
     
         23 . For use with a demountable multi-purpose exercise device which includes a pair of elongate plunger members and a guide member arranged for mutual, relative, resilient contraction along a common axis, exercise apparatus which includes: 
 a) at least one retractable spool member rotationally mounted within a substantially cylindrical casing having a cylindrical axial mounting opening formed therethrough; and    b) at least one elongate flexible member fixably attached by a first end thereof to said at least one spool member and arranged to be resiliently coiled thereabout and adapted to be uncoiled in response to a force greater than a resistance force applied thereto via said spool member, said at least one retractable spool member operative to recoil said at least one elongate flexible member thereabout in the absence of a force greater than the resistance force.    
     
     
         24 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 23  wherein at least one of said exercise apparatus is demountably disposed on said guide member.  
     
     
         25 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 23  wherein said exercise apparatus includes a brake element disposed thereon so as to apply a preselected resistance force to said retractable spool member.