Apparatus for exercising a person's legs

Abstract

Apparatus ( 2 ) for exercising a person's legs ( 6 ), which apparatus ( 2 ) comprises: (i) a platform ( 8 ) on which the person ( 4 ); (ii) a bar ( 10 ) for extending across the person's upper body ( 12 ); (iii) at least one length of stretchable material ( 14 ) which in use extends upwardly from the platform ( 8 ); (iv) first and second lengths of non-stretchable material ( 16 ) which in use extend downwardly from the bar ( 10 ); (v) first connecting means ( 18 ) for connecting the length of stretchable material ( 14 ) to the first and second lengths of non-stretchable material ( 16 ); and (vi) first and second length-adjusting means ( 20 ) for respectively adjusting the first and second lengths of non-stretchable material ( 16 ), and wherein there are first and second roller formations ( 44 ) on an underside of the platform ( 8 ) and adjacent the first and second apertures ( 34 ).

1 . Apparatus for exercising a person's legs, which apparatus comprises:
 (i) a platform on which the person stands in use of the apparatus;   (ii) a bar for extending across the person's upper body such that the person is able to exercise their legs by performing a leg exercise;   (iii) at least one length of stretchable material which in use extends upwardly from the platform;   (iv) first and second lengths of non-stretchable material which in use extend downwardly from the bar;   (v) first connecting means for connecting the length of stretchable material to the first and second lengths of non-stretchable material; and   (vi) first and second length-adjusting means for respectively adjusting the first and second lengths of non-stretchable material such that the length of stretchable material gives a desired resistance when the person is performing the leg exercise and is moving from a first position to a second position, with the second position being higher than the first position,   
       and wherein:
 (vii) the length of stretchable material has first and second end portions and a central portion between the first and second end portions; 
 (viii) the platform comprises at least one first aperture for the first end portion of the length of stretchable material, and at least one second aperture for the second end portion of the length of stretchable material; 
 (ix) there is a first roller formation which is on an underside of the platform and which is adjacent the first aperture for facilitating movement of the length of stretchable material relative to the platform; 
 (x) there is a second roller formation which is on the underside of the platform and which is adjacent the second aperture for facilitating movement of the length of stretchable material relative to the platform; 
 (xi) in use the central portion of the length of stretchable material passes underneath the platform, the first and second end portions of the length of stretchable material respectively extend upwardly through the first and second apertures in the platform and away from the platform, and the person is positioned over the central portion and between the first and second end portions of the length of stretchable material; 
 (xii) the first and second lengths of non-stretchable material are spaced apart such that in use the person is positioned between the first and second lengths of non-stretchable material; 
 (xiii) the bar comprises first position-securing means for the first length of non-stretchable material; 
 (xiv) the bar comprises second position-securing means for the second length of non-stretchable material; and 
 (xv) in use the first and second position-securing means respectively secure the first and second lengths of non-stretchable material to the bar such that from a front view:
 (a) the first position-securing means is vertically above the first aperture in the platform, whereby the first length of non-stretchable material and the first end portion of the length of stretchable material extend in a straight vertical line between the first aperture in the platform and the first position-securing means; and 
 (b) the second position-securing means is vertically above the second aperture in the platform, whereby the second length of the non-stretchable material and the second end portion of the length of stretchable material extend in a straight vertical line between the second aperture in the platform and the second position-securing means. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the first and second position-securing means are loop formations which are connected to the bar, and in which the first and second lengths of non-stretchable material are configured to pass respectively through the first and second position-securing means. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which there is a plurality of the lengths of stretchable material, in which there is a plurality of the first apertures in the platform, in which there is a plurality of the second apertures in the platform, and in which there is at least one of the lengths of stretchable material for extending through opposite pairs of the first and second apertures in the platform. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3  in which there are three of the first apertures in the platform, and three of the second apertures in the platform. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the bar is a solid bar of circular cross section, or a hollow tube of circular cross section. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the first connecting means comprises a clip connecting means. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 6  in which the clip connecting means is a quick release clip connecting means having an openable portion which is biased to a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 6  or  claim 7  in which the length of the stretchable material has the clip connecting means, and in which the length of the non-stretchable material has ring members which receive the clip connecting means. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the first and second length-adjusting means are clamp devices through which the first and second lengths of the non-stretchable material pass. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the first and second lengths of the non-stretchable material are straps. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the length of the stretchable material is a length of an elastic material. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the platform, the bar, the length of the stretchable material, and the first and second lengths of the non-stretchable material are separable from each other.