Modular transportable exercise apparatus and methods

Abstract

A modular transportable exercise apparatus includes a first support member having a first hollow tubular plastic frame at least partially embedded with a support material and a second support member having a second hollow tubular plastic frame at least partially embedded with the support material. A connector including a pivoting joint may be arranged to connect a first end of the first support member to a first end of the second support member, including a first portion engaged with the first end of the first support member and a second portion engaged with the first end of the second support member, the first portion being detachably connectable to the second portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a first support member including a first hollow tubular frame at least partially embedded with a support material;   a second support member including a second hollow tubular frame at least partially embedded with the support material; and   a connector comprising a pivoting joint configured to detachably connect the first support member to the second support member.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a pin and a pin receiver, the pin receiver configured to removably accept the pin therein. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the connector includes a metal bolster arranged to support the pin. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the metal bolster supports a center portion of the pin. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the connector and a second portion of the connector are integrally formed within the first support member and the second support member, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first hollow tubular frame and the second hollow tubular frame are each formed of a plastic, the plastic comprising at least one of a polycarbonate, polypropylene, polymer, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadience styrene (ABS), nylon, and acrylic. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support material comprises at least one of, glass, glass beads, glass fiber, mineral fiber, plexiglass, acrylic, rubber, a polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), composite material, bioresin, vinyl, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pin receiver includes at least one hook, the pin being detachably connectable to the at least one hook. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pin receiver includes two hooks spaced apart and arranged to detachably engage with outer lateral portions of the pin. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector further includes a locking joint spaced away from the pivoting joint, the locking joint arranged to secure the connection of the first end of the first support member to the first end of the second support member after the first end of the first support member has been rotated about the pivoting joint until engagement with the first end of the second support member at the locking joint. 
     
     
         11 . A method for assembling an exercise apparatus comprising:
 providing a first support member including a first hollow tubular frame and embedded with a support material;   providing a second support member including a second hollow tubular frame and embedded with the support material;   removably connecting a first portion of the first support member to a second portion of the second support member at a detachably connecting pivoting joint.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion includes a pin and the second portion includes a pin receiver, the pin being detachably connectable to the pin receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed within a portion of the first support member and the second support member respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first hollow tubular frame is formed of a plastic comprising at least one of a polycarbonate, polypropylene, polymer, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadience styrene (ABS), nylon, and acrylic. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the support material includes at least one of glass, glass beads, glass fiber, mineral fiber, plexiglass, acrylic, rubber, a polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), composite material, bioresin, vinyl, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion includes a metal bolster arranged to support the pin. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the metal bolster supports a center portion of the pin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pin receiver includes at least one hook, the pin being detachably connectable to the at least one hook. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pin receiver includes two hooks spaced apart and arranged to detachably engage with outer lateral portions of the pin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connector further includes a locking joint spaced away from the pivoting joint, the locking joint arranged to secure the connection of a first end of the first support member to a first end of the second support member after the first end of the first support member has been rotated about the pivoting joint until engagement with the first end of the second support member at the locking joint. 
     
     
         21 . A multiply housed exercise apparatus transportation kit comprising:
 a first housing containing a first group of components of the exercise apparatus; and   a second housing containing a second group of components of the exercise apparatus;   wherein at least one of the first and second is less than or equal to  165  inches in length plus girth or at least one of the first, second, and third housing is less than or equal to  108  inches in length.   
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first and second group weighs less than or equal to 150 pounds. 
     
     
         23 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a first support member comprising a first portion of a pivoting joint;   a second support member comprising a second portion of the pivoting joint; and   wherein the first portion of the pivoting joint is configured to engage the second portion at a bottom of the first support member and of the second support member.   
     
     
         24 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein an axis of rotation of the pivoting joint is located at a bottom of the first support member and the second support member when the exercise apparatus is in an operational position.