Portable exercise apparatus

Abstract

A portable exercise apparatus consists of several lightweight, separate components. The apparatus has a resilient, flexible, somewhat bouncy base member shaped as a half spheroid, having rounded lateral surfaces and a substantially flat bottom surface. A height adjustable support post member is connected to and extends up from the base member. It is removeably secured to the base member. A foot supporting member comprising laterally extending support arms is removeably attached to the upper end of the post member. The apparatus supports the feet and legs of the user, by maintaining the legs elevated at a selected height off the ground, when the user is lying on his or her back in a sit-up position. In this position, with legs supported, the user can do a variety of rotational and sit-up type exercises.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a resilient base member having rounded lateral surfaces;   a horizontal post member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of said post member extending up from and being connected to the base member; and   support means connected to the upper end of the post member for maintaining the feet and legs of a user in an elevated position above the base member and the post member.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the base member has a substantially flat bottom surface. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the support means comprises a foot supporting member connected substantially perpendicular to the post member. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 3  wherein the foot supporting member comprises dual laterally extending foot supporting arm member. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising means for removeably securing the base member to the post member. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 5  further comprising second means for removeably securing the post member to the support means. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising means for removeably securing the post member to the support means. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the post member comprises adjustment means for setting the height of the post member. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein the adjustment means comprises two telescoping sleeves configured to be connected at a plurality of different locations in order to set the post member at a plurality of different heights. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein the support means comprises a foot supporting member connected substantially perpendicular to the post member. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein the foot supporting member comprises dual laterally extending foot supporting arm members. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the base member is in the shape of half of a spheroid. 
     
     
         13 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a resilient base member in the shape of half of a spheroid, said base member having rounded lateral surfaces and a substantially flat bottom surface;   a horizontal post member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of said post member being connected to and extending up from the base member; and   a foot supporting member comprising dual laterally extending arm members, said foot supporting member connected substantially perpendicularly to the upper end of the post member for supporting the feet and legs of a user in an elevated position over the base member and the post member.   
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 13  further comprising means for removeably securing the base member to the post member. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 14  further comprising second means for removeably securing the post member to the support member. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 13  further comprising means for removeably securing the post member to the support member. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the post member comprises adjustable means for setting the height of the post member. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 17  wherein the adjustment means comprises two telescoping sleeves configured to be connected at a plurality of different locations in order to set the post member at a plurality of different heights. 
     
     
         19 . An exercise apparatus comprising separate components, these components comprising:
 a resilient base member in the shape of half of a spheroid, said base member having rounded lateral surfaces, a substantially fiat bottom surface, and base member connection means for securing a horizontal post member to the base member;   a horizontal post member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of said post member having lower connection means for securing the post member to the base member and upper connection means for securing the post member to a foot supporting member; and   a foot supporting member comprising dual laterally extending arm members, said foot supporting member having post member connection means for securing the foot supporting member substantially perpendicularly to the upper connection means of the post member, whereby when the post member connection means is secured to the upper connection means and the base member connection means is secured to the lower connection means, the feet and legs of a prone user which are resting on the arm members will be supported in an elevated position over the base member and the post member.   
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 19  wherein the post member comprises adjustable means for setting the height of the post member. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise apparatus as in  claim 20  wherein the adjustable means comprises two telescoping sleeves configured to be connected at a plurality of different locations in order to set the post member at a plurality of different heights.