Wheel exercise apparatus and method

Abstract

A wheel exercise apparatus comprises a single wheel, preferably air-inflated, that has an axle passing through it. Foot rests for receiving the feet of a user are connected to the opposing ends of the axle. Each foot rest has a toe cup. The foot rests have cable attachment points for optionally connecting a weight sled to the apparatus or connecting foot plates having fixed heel rests. The foot plates allow exercises where the the user's body is facing upward. One method of using the apparatus includes the steps of the user kneeling; placing a wheel exercise apparatus behind the user; placing the toes of the user in the toe cups of the wheel exercise apparatus; stretching out the body of the user away from the wheel exercise apparatus; and, walking forward with the hands while balancing II the body on the wheel exercise apparatus.

1 . A wheel exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a single wheel; 
 the wheel having an axle; the axle having first and second opposing ends;  
   a first foot rest mounted on the first end of the axle; 
 the first foot rest having a first toe cup;  
   a second foot rest mounted on the second end of the axle; 
 the second foot rest having a second toe cup;  
   the first and second foot rests having cable attachment points.    
   
   
       2 . The wheel exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , where the wheel is an air-filled tire.  
   
   
       3 . The wheel exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , where foot rests are removable from the axle.  
   
   
       4 . A wheel exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a single wheel; 
 the wheel having an axle; the axle having first and second opposing ends;  
   first and second foot rests mounted on the first and second ends of the axle;    a first foot plate mounted on the first foot rest; 
 the first foot plate having a first fixed heel rest;  
   a second foot plate mounted on the second foot rest; 
 the second foot plate having a first fixed heel rest.  
   
   
   
       5 . The wheel exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , where the wheel is an air-filled tire.  
   
   
       6 . The wheel exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , where foot plates are removable from the foot rests.  
   
   
       7 . A wheel exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a single wheel; 
 the wheel having an axle; the axle having first and second opposing ends;  
   a first foot rest mounted on the first end of the axle; 
 the first foot rest having a first toe cup;  
   a second foot rest mounted on the second end of the axle; 
 the second foot rest having a second toe cup;  
   the first and second foot rests having cable attachment points;    a sled;    a cable; 
 the cable connecting the sled to the cable attachment points of the foot rests.  
   
   
   
       8 . The wheel exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , where the wheel is an air-filled tire.  
   
   
       9 . The wheel exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , where foot rests are removable from the axle.  
   
   
       10 . The wheel exercise apparatus of  claim 7  where the sled further comprises a post for holding weights.  
   
   
       11 . A method of exercising by a user, comprising: 
 the user kneeling;    placing a wheel exercise apparatus behind the user;    placing the toes of the user in the toe cups of the wheel exercise apparatus;    stretching out the body of the user away from the wheel exercise apparatus; and,    walking forward with the hands while balancing the body on the wheel exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 connecting a sled to the wheel exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1   1  further comprising attaching a belt post to the body of the user.  
   
   
       14 . A method of exercising by a user, comprising: 
 placing the feet of the user on the foot plates of a wheel exercise apparatus;    the foot plates having heel rests;    resting the heels in the heel rests of the foot plates;    lying back from the wheel exercise apparatus with the knees bent;    lifting the midsection off the floor until the midsection is approximately straight;    rolling the wheel exercise apparatus away from the body, keeping the buttocks off the floor; and,    returning the legs to the starting position of knees bent.    
   
   
       15 . A method of exercising by a user, comprising: 
 the user kneeling;    placing the hands on the handgrips of a wheel exercise apparatus;    placing the wheel exercise apparatus near the knees;    rolling the wheel exercise apparatus away from the user's knees; and,    rolling the wheel exercise apparatus back to the starting position.