Exercise equipment and related methods

Abstract

A number of embodiments include an exercise apparatus. The exercise apparatus can transition between a lowered configuration and a raised configuration and each configuration can be used to perform the same or different exercises.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a first portion comprising:
 a center member aligned with an approximate midline of the exercise apparatus and having a first end and a second end; 
 a footrest coupled to the first end of the center member; and 
 an ankle support located along a top surface of the center member between the footrest and the second end of the center member; 
   a second portion hingedly coupled to the first portion and configured to rest on a floor; and   a peg coupled to the first portion, wherein:
 the exercise apparatus is configured to transition from a lowered configuration where the first portion is in a lowered position to a raised configuration where the first portion is in a raised position by actuating the peg; 
 the lowered configuration permits a user to perform a first exercise; 
 the raised configuration permits the user to perform a second exercise different from the first exercise; and 
 the center member, the footrest, and the ankle support remain in a same position relative to each other when in both the lowered position and the raised position. 
   
     
     
         22 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the ankle support comprises an ankle post coupled to an ankle pad. 
     
     
         23 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the footrest creates an approximately 90 degree angle with the center member. 
     
     
         24 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the peg is hingedly coupled to the first portion and wherein the exercise apparatus is configured to transition from the lowered configuration where the first portion is in the lowered position to the raised configuration where the first portion is in the raised position by actuating the peg at a hinged coupling point. 
     
     
         25 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the second portion is configured to receive the peg when the exercise apparatus is in the raised configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 21  further configured to transition from the lowered configuration where the first portion is in the lowered position to the raised configuration where the first portion is in the raised position by actuating the peg and raising the second end of the center member. 
     
     
         27 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 21  further configured to transition from the lowered configuration where the first portion is in the lowered position to the raised configuration where the first portion is in the raised position by actuating the peg and lowering the first end of the center member. 
     
     
         28 . A method of transitioning an exercise apparatus from a raised configuration to a lowered configuration, the method comprising:
 lowering a first portion of the exercise apparatus relative to a second portion of the exercise apparatus configured to rest on a floor, wherein the first portion comprises:
 a center member having a first end and a second end; 
 a footrest coupled to the first end of the center member; and 
 an ankle support located along a top surface of the center member between the footrest and the second end of the center member; and 
   actuating a peg coupled to the first portion, wherein:
 the center member, the footrest, and the ankle support remain in a same position relative to each other when in both the lowered configuration and the raised configuration; 
 the lowered configuration permits a user to perform a first exercise; and 
 the raised configuration permits the user to perform a second exercise different from the first exercise. 
   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the ankle support comprises an ankle post coupled to an ankle pad. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the exercise apparatus creates an approximately 90 degree angle with the center member. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein actuating the peg comprises actuating the peg at a hinged coupling point. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising un-coupling the peg from the second portion. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein lowering the first portion of the exercise apparatus relative to the second portion of the exercise apparatus comprises:
 lowering the second end of the center member; and   raising the first end of the center member.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein lowering the first portion of the exercise apparatus relative to the second portion of the exercise apparatus comprises:
 actuating the peg; and   raising the first end of the center member.   
     
     
         35 . A method of transitioning an exercise apparatus from a lowered configuration to a raised configuration, the method comprising:
 raising a first portion of the exercise apparatus relative to a second portion of the exercise apparatus configured to rest on a floor, wherein the first portion comprises:
 a center member having a first end and a second end; 
 a footrest coupled to the first end of the center member; and 
 an ankle support located along a top surface of the center member between the footrest and the second end of the center member; and 
   actuating a peg coupled to the first portion, wherein:
 the center member, the footrest, and the ankle support remain in a same position relative to each other when in both the lowered configuration and the raised configuration; 
 the lowered configuration permits a user to perform a first exercise; and 
 the raised configuration permits the user to perform a second exercise different from the first exercise. 
   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the ankle support comprises an ankle post coupled to an ankle pad. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the exercise apparatus creates an approximately 90 degree angle with the center member. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein actuating the peg comprises actuating the peg at a hinged coupling point. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising coupling the peg to the second portion. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein raising the first portion of the exercise apparatus relative to the second portion of the exercise apparatus comprises:
 raising the second end of the center member; and   lowering the first end of the center member.