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 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a top portion comprising:
 a center post having a first end and a second end; 
 an ankle post coupled to a top surface of the center post; and 
 a footrest coupled to and creating an approximately 90 degree angle with the first end of the center post, wherein the ankle post is located between the footrest and the second end; and 
 a cushion coupled to the center post that receives a lower body of an athlete when the exercise apparatus is in a lowered configuration; 
   a bottom portion comprising a foot for resting on a ground; and   a peg hingedly coupled to the top portion, wherein:
 the top portion is coupled to the bottom portion at a pivot point; 
 the footrest is closer to the pivot point than the cushion is to the pivot point; 
 the exercise apparatus is configured to transition from the lowered configuration where the top portion is in a lowered position to a raised configuration where the top portion is in a raised position by actuating the peg at a hinged coupling point; and 
 the center post, the footrest, and the ankle post remain in a same position relative to each other when in both the lowered position and the raised position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the lowered configuration comprises a Nordic bench and the raised configuration comprises a Roman Chair. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the cushion is removable. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising one or more wheels coupled to the bottom portion proximate to the footrest of the top portion, wherein the one or more wheels are configured to engage the ground when the exercise apparatus is in the lowered configuration and the second end of the center post is lifted. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a sheath coupled to the bottom portion and for receiving the peg. 
     
     
         22 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a top portion comprising:
 a center post having a first end and a second end; 
 an ankle post coupled to a top surface of the center post; 
 a flat-top cushion coupled to the center post; and 
 a footrest coupled to the center post at the first end; 
   a bottom portion comprising a foot; and   a peg hingedly coupled to the top portion, wherein:
 the exercise apparatus is configured to transition, from a lowered configuration where the top portion is in a lowered position, to a raised configuration where the top portion is in a raised position, by actuating the peg at a hinged coupling point; 
 when in the lowered position, the peg is stored underneath the center post and the flat-top cushion; 
 when in the lowered position, the peg is approximately parallel with the center post, the flat-top cushion, and a floor; and 
 the center post, the footrest, and the ankle post remain in a same position relative to each other when in both the lowered position and the raised position. 
   
     
     
         23 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the lowered configuration comprises a Nordic bench and the raised configuration comprises a Roman Chair. 
     
     
         24 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a removable cushion coupled to the center post. 
     
     
         25 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising one or more wheels coupled to the bottom portion proximate to the footrest of the top portion, wherein the one or more wheels are configured to engage the floor when the exercise apparatus is in the lowered configuration and the second end of the center post is lifted. 
     
     
         26 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a sheath coupled to the bottom portion and for receiving the peg. 
     
     
         27 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a top portion comprising:
 a center post having a first end and a second end; 
 an ankle post comprising an ankle pad and coupled to a top surface of the center post; 
 a footrest coupled to the center post at the first end; 
   a bottom portion comprising:
 a foot; and 
 a trench that receives at least a portion of the top portion when the exercise apparatus is in a lowered configuration; and 
   a peg hingedly coupled to the top portion, wherein:
 the exercise apparatus is configured to transition from the lowered configuration where the top portion is in a lowered position to a raised configuration where the top portion is in a raised position by actuating the peg at a hinged coupling point; and 
 the center post, the footrest, and the ankle post remain in a same position relative to each other when in both the lowered position and the raised position. 
   
     
     
         28 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the lowered configuration comprises a Nordic bench and the raised configuration comprises a Roman Chair. 
     
     
         29 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 27  further comprising a removable cushion coupled to the center post. 
     
     
         30 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 27  further comprising one or more wheels coupled to the bottom portion proximate to the footrest of the top portion, wherein the one or more wheels are configured to engage a floor when the exercise apparatus is in the lowered configuration and the second end of the center post is lifted. 
     
     
         31 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 27  further comprising a sheath coupled to the bottom portion and for receiving the peg. 
     
     
         32 . A collapsed exercise apparatus comprising:
 a center post;   a crossbar coupled to the center post;   a cushion coupled to the center post or the crossbar;   an ankle post coupled to the center post;   a peg hingedly coupled to the center post; and   a footrest coupled to and creating an approximately 90 degree angle with the center post, wherein the ankle post is located between the footrest and the crossbar on the center post, wherein the collapsed exercise apparatus is configured to transition between a first collapsed configuration and a second expanded configuration by actuating the peg at a hinged coupling point, and wherein the center post, the footrest, and the ankle post remain in a same position relative to each other when in both the first collapsed configuration and the second expanded configuration.   
     
     
         33 . The collapsed exercise apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the first collapsed configuration comprises a Nordic bench and the second expanded configuration comprises a Roman Chair. 
     
     
         34 . The collapsed exercise apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the cushion is removable. 
     
     
         35 . The collapsed exercise apparatus of  claim 32  further comprising one or more wheels coupled proximate to the footrest, wherein the one or more wheels are configured to engage a floor when the collapsed exercise apparatus is in the first collapsed configuration and the center post is lifted. 
     
     
         36 . The collapsed exercise apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein, when in the first collapsed configuration, the peg is stored underneath the center post and the cushion and wherein, when in the first collapsed configuration, the peg is approximately parallel with the center post, the cushion, and a floor. 
     
     
         37 . The collapsed exercise apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the center post comprises a first end, a second end, an approximate midline running from the first end to the second end, and a width running perpendicular to the approximate midline; and   the cushion comprises two flat-top cushions having a gap therebetween defined by at least a portion of the width of the center post, wherein the two flat-top cushions are coupled to the center post proximate to a termination of the center post at the second end of the center post.