Full Body Exercise Apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus provides two-directional, movement-based resistance training to a user, and is collapsible for ease of stowage. The apparatus includes a pedestal assembly, a seat assembly, a resistance unit, and a pair of arm assemblies. The pedestal assembly includes a basal frame and a pair of legs. The frame is configured to extend in an apparatus support plane. The legs are pivotally attached to the frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend orthogonally relative to the apparatus support plane or parallel to the apparatus support plane. The seat assembly is pivotally attached to the laterally opposed legs. The resistance unit is adjustable and configured to resist rotation about the rotational axis. Each arm assembly is attached to an end of the resistance unit and is configured to direct force imparted from a user at handle portions into the resistance unit for providing resistance training.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A full body exercise apparatus for providing resistance training to a user, the full body exercise apparatus comprising:
 a pedestal assembly, the pedestal assembly comprising a basal frame and a pair of laterally opposed legs, the basal frame being configured to extend in an apparatus support plane, the laterally opposed legs being attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend orthogonally relative to the apparatus support plane when in a use configuration;   a seat assembly, the seat assembly being attached to the laterally opposed legs;   a resistance unit, the resistance unit comprising laterally opposed rotational shaft ends and a rotational axis extending in parallel relation to the apparatus support plane configured to resist rotation about the rotational axis in two rotational directions; and   a pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies, each arm assembly being attached to a rotational shaft end at a first arm end of an arm attachment portion, the arm attachment portions extending radially from the rotational axis and comprising a handle at a second arm end, the pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies for directing force imparted from a user at the handles into the resistance unit, the resistance unit for resisting rotation about the rotational axis in the two rotational directions for providing two-way resistance training to the user for training opposed muscle groups in a single back and forth movement.   
     
     
         2 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein rotational resistance about the rotational axis in two rotational directions is continuous during movement of at least one arm assembly for eliminating eccentric training during said movement and enhancing safety to the user. 
     
     
         3 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the seat assembly is pivotally attached to the laterally opposed legs for enabling the user to variously orient the seat assembly for exercising alternative muscle groups. 
     
     
         4 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the resistance unit comprises a rotational shaft portion, a stationary shaft portion, and a resistance assembly, the rotational shaft portion being rotational relative to the stationary shaft portion for resisting rotation about the rotational axis in the two rotational directions. 
     
     
         5 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the resistance unit comprises a stacked disc arrangement, the stacked disc arrangement comprising a series of friction discs, a series of stationary discs, and a series of rotating discs, each disc within the stacked disc arrangement extending radially outward from the rotational axis. 
     
     
         6 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the friction discs extend intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs for imparting friction thereto during rotation of the rotatable shaft portion about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         7 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 6  comprising a resistance adjustment mechanism configured to selectively increase or decrease friction intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs. 
     
     
         8 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism is characterized by a resistance adjustment nut and at least one disc spring, the resistance adjustment nut being configured for enabling a user to manually rotate said nut about the rotational axis for resiliently actuating and relaxing the at least one disc spring for selectively increasing or decreasing friction intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs. 
     
     
         9 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the laterally opposed legs are pivotally attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend parallel to the apparatus support plane when in a stowage configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the pedestal assembly comprises laterally opposed frame portions and laterally opposed pedestal support legs, the pedestal support legs being extendable relative to the laterally opposed frame portions so as to extend therefrom when in the use configuration and retract relative thereto when in the stowage configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A full body exercise apparatus for providing adjustable two-directional resistance training to a user, the full body exercise apparatus comprising:
 a pedestal assembly, the pedestal assembly comprising a basal frame and a pair of laterally opposed legs, the basal frame being configured to extend in an apparatus support plane, the laterally opposed legs being attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend orthogonally relative to the apparatus support plane;   a seat assembly, the seat assembly being attached to the laterally opposed legs;   an adjustable resistance unit, the adjustable resistance unit comprising laterally opposed rotational shaft ends and a rotational axis extending in parallel relation to the apparatus support plane configured to adjustably resist rotation about the rotational axis in two rotational directions; and   a pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies, each arm assembly being attached to a rotational shaft end and comprising a handle at an arm end, the pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies for directing force imparted from a user at the handles into the resistance unit, the resistance unit for resisting rotation about the rotational axis in two rotational directions for providing adjustable two-directional resistance training to the user.   
     
     
         12 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein rotational resistance about the rotational axis in two rotational directions is continuous during movement of at least one arm assembly for eliminating eccentric training during said movement and enhancing safety to the user. 
     
     
         13 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the seat assembly is pivotally attached to the laterally opposed legs for enabling the user to variously orient the seat assembly for exercising alternative muscle groups. 
     
     
         14 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the resistance unit comprises a rotational shaft portion, a stationary shaft portion, and a resistance assembly, the rotational shaft portion being rotational relative to the stationary shaft portion for resisting rotation about the rotational axis in the two rotational directions. 
     
     
         15 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the resistance unit comprises a stacked disc arrangement, the stacked disc arrangement comprising a series of friction discs, a series of stationary discs, and a series of rotating discs, each disc within the stacked disc arrangement extending radially outward from the rotational axis. 
     
     
         16 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the friction discs extend intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs for imparting friction thereto during rotation of the rotatable shaft portion about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         17 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 16  comprising a resistance adjustment mechanism configured to selectively increase or decrease friction intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs. 
     
     
         18 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism is characterized by a resistance adjustment nut and at least one disc spring, the resistance adjustment nut being configured for enabling a user to manually rotate said nut about the rotational axis for resiliently actuating and relaxing the at least one disc spring for selectively increasing or decreasing friction intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs. 
     
     
         19 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the laterally opposed legs are pivotally attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend parallel to the apparatus support plane when in a stowage configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The full body exercise apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the pedestal assembly comprises laterally opposed frame portions and laterally opposed pedestal support legs, the pedestal support legs being extendable relative to the laterally opposed frame portions so as to extend therefrom when in the use configuration and retract relative thereto when in the stowage configuration.