Exercise furniture device

Abstract

An exercise device adapted for use with a chair includes a handle arm mounted to an armrest portion by a first connector including a first axis and a second axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the first axis. A resistance element is used with a first end attached to the armrest portion by a second connecter including a third axis and a fourth axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the third axis and a second end attached to the handle arm by a third connector including a fifth axis and a sixth axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the fifth axis. A foot frame is included with at least one frame band receiver, the foot frame being mounted to the base portion. A foot support is moveably mounted to the foot frame and includes at least one support band receiver. A resistance band is adapted to be received by the frame band receiver and the support band receiver to provide resistance to displacement by the user. This provides a method of upper and lower body exercise for a user without the necessity of getting out of the chair.

1 . An exercise device comprising:
 a chair including a base portion, a seat portion, a backrest portion and at least one armrest portion; and   an exercise system including:
 a handle arm mounted to the at least one armrest portion by a first connector including a first axis and a second axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the first axis; and 
 a resistance element with a first end attached to the at least one armrest portion by a second connector including a third axis and a fourth axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the third axis and a second end attached to the handle arm by a third connector including a fifth axis and a sixth axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the fifth axis. 
   
   
   
       2 . The exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle arm includes a handle end received by the handle arm base. 
   
   
       3 . The exercise device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a handle resistance mechanism mounted to the handle end and the handle arm, thereby offering resistance to movement of the handle end relative to the handle arm base. 
   
   
       4 . The exercise device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a clip that is adapted to receive the handle resistance mechanism and be releasably engaged with the handle arm, thereby enabling selective engagement of one or more handle resistance mechanisms. 
   
   
       5 . The exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the resistance element is a device selected from the group consisting of a two-way hydraulic damper, a one-way hydraulic damper, a pneumatic cylinder and an elastic spring device. 
   
   
       6 . The exercise device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a foot frame including at least one frame band receiver, the foot frame mounted to the base portion;
 a foot support moveably mounted to the foot frame and including at least one support band receiver; and   at least one resistance band adapted to be received by the frame band receiver and the support band receiver.   
   
   
       7 . The exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connector is a two axis universal joint. 
   
   
       8 . The exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the third connector includes a joint with three degrees of freedom. 
   
   
       9 . An exercise system for use in combination with furniture, of the type comprising a chair including a base portion, a seat portion, a backrest portion and at least one armrest portion, the device further comprising:
 a handle arm pivotally mounted to the at least one armrest portion about a first axis and a second axis, the second axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the first axis; and   a resistance element with a first end pivotally mounted to the at least one armrest portion about a third axis and a fourth axis, the fourth axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the third axis and a second end pivotally mounted to the handle arm about a fifth axis and a sixth axis, the sixth axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the fifth axis.   
   
   
       10 . The exercise system according to  claim 9 , wherein the handle arm includes a handle end received by the handle arm base. 
   
   
       11 . The exercise system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a handle resistance mechanism mounted to the handle end and the handle arm, thereby offering resistance to movement of the handle end relative to the handle arm base. 
   
   
       12 . The exercise system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a band clip that is adapted to receive the handle resistance mechanism and be releasably engaged with the handle arm, thereby enabling selective engagement of one or more handle resistance mechanisms. 
   
   
       13 . The exercise system according to  claim 9 , wherein the resistance element is a device selected from the group consisting of a two-way hydraulic damper, a one-way hydraulic damper, a pneumatic cylinder and an elastic spring device. 
   
   
       14 . The exercise system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a foot frame including at least one frame band receiver, the foot frame mounted to the base portion;
 a foot support moveably mounted to the foot frame and including at least one support band receiver; and   at least one resistance band adapted to be received by the frame band receiver and the support band receiver.   
   
   
       15 . The exercise system according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one resistance band is a device selected from the group consisting of an elastic spring, a pneumatic cylinder and a hydraulic damper. 
   
   
       16 . The exercise system according to  claim 9 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are adjacently spaced pivoting joints. 
   
   
       17 . The exercise system according to  claim 9 , wherein the fifth axis and the sixth axis include a ball and socket joint including a seventh axis. 
   
   
       18 . An exercise system for use in combination with furniture, of the type comprising a chair including a base portion, a seat portion, a backrest portion and at least one armrest portion, the device further comprising:
 a foot frame including at least one frame band receiver, the foot frame mounted to the base portion;   a foot support including at least one support band receiver, the foot support moveably mounted to the foot frame; and   at least one resistance band with a first end adapted to be attached to the frame band receiver and a second end adapted to be attached to the support band receiver allowing movement in at least one degree of freedom.   
   
   
       19 . The exercise system according to  claim 18 , further comprising a handle arm pivotally mounted to the at least one armrest portion about a first axis and a second axis, the second axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the first axis. 
   
   
       20 . The exercise system according to  claim 19 , further comprising a resistance element with a first end pivotally mounted to the at least one armrest portion about a third axis and a fourth axis, the fourth axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the third axis and a second end pivotally mounted to the handle arm about a fifth axis and a sixth axis, the sixth axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the fifth axis. 
   
   
       21 . The exercise system according to  claim 19 , wherein the handle arm includes a handle end received by the handle arm. 
   
   
       22 . The exercise system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a handle resistance mechanism mounted to the handle end and the handle arm, thereby offering resistance to movement of the handle end relative to the handle arm. 
   
   
       23 . A method of exercise including the steps of:
 providing a chair including a base portion, a seat portion, a backrest portion and at least one armrest portion;   providing an exercise device incorporated into the chair, the device including:
 a handle arm pivotally mounted to the at least one armrest portion about a first axis and a second axis, the second axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the first axis; and 
 a resistance element with a first end pivotally mounted to the at least one armrest portion about a third axis and a fourth axis, the fourth axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the third axis and a second end pivotally mounted to the handle arm about a fifth axis and a sixth axis, the sixth axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the fifth axis; and 
   positioning a user in the chair, grasping the handle arm and displacing it relative to the armrest portion, thereby actuating the resistance element and exercising the muscles of the user.