Exercise device and methods for using the exercise device

Abstract

An exercise device may include one or more leg assemblies operatively joined to a user engagement component. The leg assemblies may position the user engagement component at an initial or rest position, which may be a predetermined distance above a support surface. The leg assemblies may be configured to allow a user to move the user engagement towards the support surface from the initial or rest position. The exercise device may further include one or more biasing or resistance components that are joined to at least one leg assembly and that resist movement of the user engagement component towards the support surface. The biasing or resistance components may further be configured to return the engagement component to its initial or rest position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise device, comprising:
 a user engagement component;   first and second leg assemblies operatively associated with the user engagement component;   a biasing component operatively associated with at least one of the first and second leg assemblies; and   the first and second leg assemblies and the biasing component configured to support the user engagement component at a pre-determined distance above a support surface, to allow a user to selectively move the user engagement component from the pre-determined distance towards the support surface, to resist movement of the user engagement component towards the support surface, and to automatically return the user engagement component, after it is moved towards the support surface, to the pre-determined distance.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second leg assemblies each include first and second legs pivotally joined together proximate to the user engagement component and configured to move relative to each other in a scissorlike motion as the user engagement component moves from the pre-determined position towards the support surface, and vice versa. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one moving support component joined to each leg at a portion of each leg proximate to the support surface. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein each moving support component comprises a wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device according of  claim 1 , further comprising a support component joined to the user engagement component, and each of the first and second leg assemblies pivotally joined to the support component. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one user engagement member that is joined to the first and second leg assemblies proximate to the support surface. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second leg assemblies each comprise first and second legs, the at least one user engagement member comprises first and second user engagement members, the first user engagement member spans between the first leg of the first leg assembly and the first leg of the second leg assembly, and the second user engagement member spans between the second leg of the first leg assembly and the second leg of the second leg assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg assembly comprises a first leg and second leg, the second leg assembly comprises a first leg and a second leg, and as the user engagement component moves from the pre-determined distance towards the support surface, portions of the first and second legs of the first leg assembly that are proximate to the support surface move away from each other and portions of the first and second legs of the second leg assembly that are proximate to the support surface move away from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , further comprising a lock member pivotally joined to one leg of the first leg assembly and configured to be selectively joined to the other leg of the first leg assembly, wherein when the lock member is joined to the other leg of the first leg assembly, the user engagement component is prevented from moving towards the support surface from its pre-determined distance above the support surface, and when the lock member is not joined to the other leg of the first leg assembly, the user engagement component is free to move towards the support surface from its pre-determined distance above the support surface. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the user engagement component comprises a seat. 
     
     
         11 . An exercise device, comprising:
 a user engagement component;   first and second leg assemblies operatively associated with the user engagement component;   first and second user engagement members operatively associated with the first and second leg assemblies;   a biasing component operatively associated with at least one of the first and second leg assemblies; and   the user engagement component, the first and second leg assemblies, the first and second user engagement members, and the biasing component configured to allow a user to perform at least push-up and fly exercises using the device in a manner that is assisted by the exercise device for at least a portion of the exercises.   
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the user engagement component, the first and second leg assemblies, the first and second user engagement members, and the biasing component are further configured so that when the user switches from performing push-up exercises to performing fly exercises, or vice versa, no adjustment to the exercise device is required. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the exercise device is configured to assist the user in performing push-up and fly exercises by effectively reducing the user's effective body weight. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , wherein the exercise device is configured to assist the user in performing push-up or fly exercises by supporting a portion of the user's weight by the user engagement component above a support surface. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 14 , wherein the exercise device is configured to allow a user to selectively move the user engagement component towards the support surface, to resist movement of the user engagement component towards the support surface, and to automatically move the user engagement component, after it is moved towards the support surface, away from the support surface. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the exercise device is configured to further allow a user to perform dive exercises in a manner that is assisted by the exercise device for at least a portion of the dive exercises. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the exercise device is configured to provide a plurality of levels of assistance for at least a portion of the exercises. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using an exercise device, comprising:
 using the exercise device to perform at least push-up and fly exercises in a manner that is assisted by the exercise device for at least a portion the exercises.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 using the exercise device to perform further perform a dive exercise in a manner that is assisted by the exercise device for at least a portion of the dive exercise.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the user performs push-ups and fly exercises in a back-to-back manner with no adjustment to the exercise device.