Musculature exerciser and method

Abstract

A fixed musculature exerciser adapted for a specific cardiovascular training exercise such as a rowing motion includes a plurality of spaced apart support legs including laterally and outwardly extending sponsons acting as stabilization feet. A resilient resistance band can be conveniently and removably secured at both ends between a pair of linearly opposed, spaced apart anchorments secured to the distal end sections of a pair of adjacent sponsons. One end of the resistance band can be detached and the band used for strength training. Additional resistance bands can be similarly secured between other pairs of anchorments on separated sponsons.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus comprises:
 a fixed exerciser comprising;
 at least one pair of support legs, wherein each of said pair of support legs comprises:
 a strut; 
 a sponson extending laterally from a distal portion of said strut; 
 an anchorment extending from a distal section of said sponson; 
 
 at least one resistance band releasably secured to both of said pair of support legs; said resistance band comprising:
 resiliently extendable oblong member; 
 a first buckle secured to a first end of said member; 
 a second buckle secured to a second end of said member; 
 wherein said first buckle is releasably attached to a first one of said anchorment, and said second buckle is releasably attached to a second one of said anchorment opposing said first one of said anchorment. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said anchorment comprises a closed loop of rigid material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said anchorment extends along a plane substantially parallel with said track. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said closed loop borders a central aperture shaped and dimensioned to allow a part of either one of said buckles therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a second of said pair of anchorments and second resistance band releasably connected to said second of said pair of anchorments. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of support legs are adjacent to one another, and said anchorments oppose one another in a substantially linear alignment parallelly spaced apart from said track. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said anchorments are spaced apart from a substantially planar floor upon which said apparatus rests. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said resiliently extendable oblong member has an untensioned first linear length, and a tensioned second linear length longer than said first linear length. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said fixed exerciser is a rowing machine comprising an oblong track extending along a first substantially horizontal axis;
 wherein said anchorments align substantially parallel to said axis;   wherein said sponsons extend substantially perpendicular to and skewed from said axis.   
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a free handle comprising at least one handle anchorment securable to at least one of said buckles. 
     
     
         11 . An exercise apparatus comprises:
 a fixed exerciser comprising;
 a first support leg comprising:
 a first strut; 
 a first sponson extending laterally from a first distal portion of said first strut; 
 a first anchorment extending from a first distal section of said first sponson; 
 
 a second support leg comprising:
 a second strut; 
 a second sponson extending laterally from a second distal portion of said second strut; 
 a second anchorment extending from a second distal section of said second sponson; 
 
 at least one resistance band comprising:
 resiliently extendable oblong member; 
 a first buckle secured to a first end of said member; 
 a second buckle secured to a second end of said member; 
 
 wherein said first buckle is releasably attached to said first anchorment, and said second buckle is releasably attached to said second anchorment. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said first anchorment linearly opposes said second anchorment. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said first anchorment comprises a first closed loop of rigid material, and wherein said second anchorment comprises a second closed loop of rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . A method for performing a cardiovascularly targeted exercise on a fixed exercise apparatus and thereafter performing a strength targeted exercise on said fixed exercise apparatus, wherein said method comprises:
 selecting a rowing machine having a pair of supports including a pair of linearly opposed sponsons;   forming a pair of linearly opposed anchorments on said pair of sponsons;   securing a resistance band to both of said pair of anchorments;   performing a rowing exercise on said fixed exercise apparatus;   detaching a first end of said resistance band from one of said anchorments while leaving an opposite end of said resistance band secured to an other one of said anchorments; and,   conducting a strength exercise using said resistance band after said performing and detaching.   
     
     
         15 . A combination of a cardiovascular targeted exercise machine and a resilient resistance band,
 wherein said exercise machine comprises:
 a support structure including a pair of spaced apart sponsons; 
 a pair of linearly opposed anchorments formed on said pair of linearly opposed sponsons; 
   wherein said resistance band is secured to both of said pair of linearly opposed anchorments.   
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein said resistance band comprises:
 an untensioned first linear length, and a tensioned second linear length longer than said first linear length.   
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein said exerciser further comprises an oblong body extending along a first substantially horizontal axis;
 wherein said anchorments align substantially parallel to said axis;   wherein said sponsons extend substantially perpendicular to said axis.