Core Exercise Apparatus and Methods

Abstract

A dual-mode exercise apparatus may include an articulating arm assembly coupled through a joint to a support assembly. In an illustrative embodiment, the arm assembly may include a seat centrally mounted above a ball-and-socket joint and a stabilizer member for the hands and/or feet of the user. In a first mode of operation a user sits on the seat and uses his or her core muscles to articulate the seat on the ball-and-socket joint against the resistance provided by, for instance, weights mounted on distal portions of the arm assembly. In certain embodiments the apparatus may further provide a second mode of operation which simulates rowing a kayak. In a corresponding illustrative embodiment a user sits in a second seat positioned rearward of the arm assembly and the arm assembly includes handle members. In operation the user articulates the handles in a manner akin to rowing a kayak.

1 . A core exercise apparatus comprising:
 a rigid base member having an upper end and a lower end;   a pivot mechanism coupled to the upper end of the base member;   a locking mechanism to selectively prevent the pivot mechanism from pivoting;   an actuating member coupled to the pivot mechanism such that the actuating member is able to freely pivot about three perpendicular axes relative to the base member;   laterally extending members coupled to the actuating member which are configured to releasably receive ballast;   a first seat coupled to an upper portion of the actuating member, said seat configured to support a human user and to, when in an operative exercise mode, simultaneously pivot and rotate relative to the rigid base member subject to momentum of the ballast and further to, when in a mount or dismount mode, be locked into position by the locking mechanism; and,   an adjustable handle or foot stabilizing member coupled to the seat.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including handle members coupled to the laterally extending members and a second seat positioned below and laterally offset from the first seat. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable handle or foot stabilizing member is adjustable between a first position wherein the stabilizing member serves as a handle bar and a second position wherein the stabilizing member serves as a footrest. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot mechanism comprises a ball adapted to be received in a socket member of the actuating member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second seat remains substantially fixed when the apparatus is in an operative exercise mode. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the handles are vertically and laterally adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a mechanism to adjust the height of the rigid base member such that the pivot mechanism may be disposed at various operative vertical positions. 
     
     
         8 . A core exercise apparatus comprising:
 a rigid base member having an upper end and a lower end;   a pivot mechanism coupled to the upper end of the base member;   a locking mechanism to selectively prevent the pivot mechanism from pivoting;   an actuating member coupled to the pivot mechanism such that the actuating member is able to freely pivot about three perpendicular axes relative to the base member;   laterally extending members coupled to the actuating member which are configured to releasably receive ballast; and   handle members coupled to the actuating member, said handle members configured to be grasped simultaneously by a single human user;   wherein the actuating member, when in an operative exercise mode, simultaneously pivots and rotates relative to the rigid base member subject to rotational momentum of the ballast and further to, when in a ballast loading or unloading mode, be locked into position by the locking mechanism to facilitate loading or unloading of ballast.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pivot mechanism comprises a ball adapted to be received in a socket member of the actuating member. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the handle members are vertically and laterally adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a mechanism to adjust the height of the rigid base member such that the pivot mechanism may be disposed at various operative vertical positions. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including an adjustable handle or foot stabilizing member that is adjustable between a first position wherein the stabilizing member serves as a handle bar and a second position wherein the stabilizing member serves as a footrest. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including a seat which remains substantially fixed when then apparatus is in an operative exercise mode. 
     
     
         14 . An exercise system comprising:
 a first core exercise device comprising
 a first rigid base member having a first upper end and a first lower end, 
 a first pivot mechanism coupled to the first upper end of the first base member, 
 a first locking mechanism to selectively prevent the pivot mechanism from pivoting, 
 a first actuating member coupled to the first pivot mechanism such that the first actuating member is able to freely pivot on and relative to a first set of three perpendicular axes relative to the base member, 
 first laterally extending members coupled to the actuating member which are configured to releasably receive a first ballast; and, 
 a first seat coupled to an upper portion of the first actuating member, said first seat configured to support a human user and to, when in an operative exercise mode, simultaneously pivot and rotate relative to the rigid base member subject to rotational momentum of the ballast and further to, when in a mount or dismount mode, be locked into position by the first locking mechanism; and, 
 an adjustable handle or foot stabilizing member coupled to the first seat; and 
   a second core exercise device positioned within reach of the human user seated on the first core exercise device, said second core exercise device comprising:
 a second rigid base member having a second upper end and a second lower end, 
 a second pivot mechanism coupled to the second upper end of the base member, 
 a second locking mechanism to selectively prevent the second pivot mechanism from pivoting, 
 a second actuating member coupled to the second pivot mechanism such that the second actuating member is able to freely pivot on and relative to a second set of three perpendicular axes relative to the second base member; 
 second laterally extending members coupled to the second actuating member which are configured to releasably receive a second ballast; and, 
 handle members coupled to the second actuating member, said handle members configured to be grasped simultaneously by the human user, 
 wherein the second actuating member, when in an operative exercise mode, freely pivots relative to the second rigid base member under a motive force supplied by the human user and subject substantially only to inertial and gravitational forces on the second ballast and further to, when in a ballast loading or unloading mode, be locked into position by the second locking mechanism to facilitate loading or unloading of the second ballast. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first core exercise device includes an adjustable handle member which is adjustable between a first position wherein the stabilizing member serves as a handle bar and a second position wherein the stabilizing member serves as a footrest. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first pivot mechanism comprises a ball adapted to be received in a socket member of the actuating member. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second pivot mechanism comprises a ball adapted to be received in a socket member of the actuating member. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first core exercise device includes a second seat which remains substantially fixed when then apparatus is in an operative exercise mode. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the handle members are vertically and laterally adjustable. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a mechanism to adjust the height of the rigid base member such that the pivot mechanism may be disposed at various operative vertical positions.