Push-up aid apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus is provided for aiding a user in doing push-up exercises on a floor. The apparatus includes a platform, and arch-shaped leaf springs which are connected to the platform and extend downward therefrom. The arch-shaped leaf springs include a top center portion and a pair of bottom arch ends. Axles and rollers assemblies are connected to each of the pair of bottom arch ends, for reducing friction between the bottom arch ends and the floor surface, when the bottom arch ends move horizontally along the floor during the spring energy storing downstrokes and during the spring energy releasing upstrokes of the push-up exercises. Also, linear spring members can be connected to the bottom arch ends for providing additional spring energy storage and release during push-ups, thereby further aiding a user in doing push-ups.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus for use on a horizontal surface, comprising:
 a platform having a top platform side and a bottom platform side,   arch-shaped leaf spring means connected to said platform and extending downward from said platform, wherein said arch-shaped leaf spring means include a top center portion and a pair of bottom arch ends,   platform-to-leaf-spring connection means, located between said platform and said arch-shaped leaf spring means, for connecting said platform to said arch-shaped leaf spring means,   low-friction means, connected to each of said pair of bottom arch ends, for reducing friction between said bottom arch ends and the horizontal surface, when said bottom arch ends move horizontally along the horizontal surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said arch-shaped leaf spring means are comprised of two one-half arch-shaped leaf spring members, wherein each of said two one-half arch-shaped leaf spring members is connected to said platform by said platform-to-leaf-spring connection means which are comprised of a combination connection plate/linear spring support hooks and connection fasteners placed through said fastener-reception channels and leaf spring reception channels in said two one-half arch-shaped leaf springs and into said platform to securely connect said combination connection plate/linear spring support hooks and said two one-half arch-shaped leaf spring members onto said platform, wherein said platform, said combination connection plate/linear spring support hooks, and said connection fasteners are connected together and comprise a first unified platform/arch-shaped leaf spring assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said connection fasteners comprise bolts which penetrate through said fastener-reception channels and leaf spring reception channels in said arch-shaped leaf spring means and into said platform. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said arch-shaped leaf spring means are comprised of two one-half arch-shaped leaf spring members, wherein each of said two one-half arch-shaped leaf spring members is connected to said platform by said platform-to-leaf-spring connection means which include a quantity of adhesive material, wherein said platform, said quantity of adhesive material, and said two one-half arch-shaped leaf spring members are connected together and comprise a second unified platform/arch-shaped leaf spring assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said low-friction means comprise roller means, connected to each of said pair of bottom arch ends. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said roller means comprise:
 axle means connected to each of said bottom arch ends, wherein said axle means extend perpendicularly with respect to said bottom arch ends, and 
 a pair of roller assemblies supported on each of said axle means. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein axle means comprise a pair of axles connected to each of said bottom arch ends. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said roller means comprise:
 a pair of axles connected to each of said pair of bottom arch ends, wherein each of said axles extends perpendicularly with respect to said bottom arch ends, and 
 a roller assembly supported on each of said pair of axles. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including:
 a first linear spring member, and   linear-spring connection means connected to said bottom arch ends for connecting to said first linear spring member.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further including:
 a second linear spring member connected to said bottom arch ends by said linear-spring connection means,   wherein said first linear spring member has a first spring resistance level, and said second linear spring member has a second spring resistance level.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein:
 each of said first linear spring member and said second linear spring member includes a connection hook at each respective end, and 
 said linear-spring connection means of said bottom arch ends comprise hook-reception eyelets for receiving said connection hooks. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further including:
 elevated linear spring support members, supported by said platform-to-leaf-spring connection means, for selectively supporting portions of said first linear spring member and said the second linear spring member.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said elevated linear spring support members are comprised of elevated linear spring support hooks which are connected to said platform-to-leaf-spring connection means that are connected to said arch-shaped leaf spring means. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said platform-to-leaf-spring connection means and said elevated linear spring support hooks are formed as a unitary combination connection plate/linear spring support hooks. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise apparatus for use on a horizontal surface, comprising:
 arch-shaped leaf spring means which include a single continuous arch-shaped leaf spring which includes a top center portion and a pair of bottom arch ends, and   low-friction means, connected to each of said pair of bottom arch ends, for reducing friction between said bottom arch ends and the horizontal surface, when said bottom arch ends move horizontally along the horizontal surface.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said top center portion includes a flattened top center portion.