Vibrating exercise device for assisting stretching

Abstract

An exercise device for assisting stretching exercises, which includes a stretch support frame and a vibrator. The stretch support frame is configured to define a plurality of fixed leverage points for engagement by a user to perform stretching exercises. The vibrator is operatively connected to the stretch support frame to vibrate the frame such that vibrations are transferred from the frame to the user when the user engages one or more of said leverage points to increase the efficacy of the stretching exercises.

1 . An exercise device for assisting stretching exercises, the device comprising:
 a stretch support frame configured to define a plurality of fixed leverage points for engagement by a user to perform stretching exercises;   a vibrator operatively connected to said stretch support frame to vibrate the frame such that vibrations are transferred from the frame to the user when the user engages one or more of said leverage points to increase the efficacy of said stretching exercises; and   a base for supporting the user during said stretching exercises, wherein base is vibrationally isolated from vibrator and/or the stretch support frame.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the vibrator is mounted to the stretch support frame. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 2  wherein the vibrator is mounted to the stretch support frame such that it is vertically spaced from the base. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises a base plate for supporting the user during said stretching exercises. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the stretch support frame is mounted from the base. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises a vibration damper for vibrationally isolating said base from the stretch support frame. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the stretch support frame comprises a plurality of stretch support members ergonomically arranged at a plurality of different vertical positions and/or horizontal positions and/or orientations to define said plurality of leverage points. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising a controller for selectively varying the frequency and/or magnitude and/or period of vibration of the vibrator. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the stretch support frame comprises a stretch frame section defining said plurality of leverage points and a structural support frame section connected to and supporting said stretch frame section. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 9  wherein said stretch frame section is releasably connected to said structural support frame section and is selectively interchangeable with a plurality of alternative stretch frame sections each defining a different arrangement of leverage points. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 9  wherein the vibrator is mounted to the structural support frame section. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 11  wherein the vibrator is vibrationally isolated from the structural support frame section. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 9  wherein the vibrator is connected to the stretch frame section. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 13  further comprising a clamp for releasably connecting the vibrator to the stretch frame section. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 9  wherein the stretch frame section is supported by the structural support frame section in a suspended position vertically spaced from the base. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 9  wherein the structural support frame section mounted to the base. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising a vibration damper arranged to vibrationally isolate the stretch support frame from the ground. 
     
     
         18 . An exercise device for assisting stretching exercises, the device comprising:
 a stretch support frame configured to define a plurality of fixed leverage points for engagement by a user to perform stretching exercises; and   a vibrator operatively connected to said stretch support frame to vibrate the frame such that vibrations are transferred from the frame to the user when the user engages one or more of said leverage points to increase the efficacy of said stretching exercises.   
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 18  further comprising a base for supporting the user during said stretching exercises, wherein base is vibrationally isolated from vibrator and/or the stretch support frame. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise device of  claim 18  wherein the vibrator is mounted to the stretch support frame.