Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6206809
-
Patent Number
6,206,809
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, May 5, 199826 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 27, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- DeMille; Danton D.
- LaMarca; William
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 482 93
- 482 94
- 482 95
- 482 96
- 482 142
- 482 148
- 482 130
- 482 140
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
In an exercise apparatus a rigid frame includes upper and lower back supports pivotally connected in axial alignment. Upper and lower back support pads are mounted on the rigid frame for supporting a user in a reclined position with the weight of the user providing resistance to the exercises. Leverage arms are mounted at the head end of the upper back support. The leverage arms extend above the rigid frame such that the free ends thereof may be grasped by the user while performing abdominal exercises. The lower back support includes handles extending outwardly from the foot end thereof for grasping by the user while performing glute exercises. A thigh pad is mounted on the upper end of a lever arm pivotally attached to the foot end of the lower back support. Upon pushing the thigh pad by the user, the foot end of the rigid frame is raised along with the body of the user. Abdominal curls or crunching exercises are performed by grasping the leverage arms and pulling up the upper back support. An adjustable resistance wheel is provided for varying resistance to the exercises.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an exercise device, particularly a variable resistance exercise device for strengthening the abdominal and gluteus muscles. The present invention includes a platform or bench to support a user in a reclining position with resistance to the exercise provided by the weight of the user.
The fitness industry has heretofore provided various exercise devices, particularly for home use, for exercising a user's lower torso. U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,936 issued on Dec. 25, 1984, provides a platform or board to support a user in a reclining position with the weight of the user providing resistance to the exercises. A movable frame having a single nonadjustable pivot axis is actuated by the user and may be positioned at selected fulcrum points along the platform to provide the desired resistance. Such an exercise machine is relatively inexpensive and can be utilized for exercising various body muscles.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,447 issued on Sep. 13, 1994, an exercise machine is provided having a platform on which a user is supported in a reclining position. The weight of the user is utilized as the resistance for various exercises performed on the exercise machine. A lever pivotally connected to the platform may be actuated by the user for raising or lowering one end of the platform with respect to a pivot point. U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,114 issued on Aug. 13, 1996 provides an exercise device for exercising the upper and lower abdomen and the back. The device includes rigid upper and lower back supports which are pivotally joined. Resistance means attach to the pivotal portions of the device to allow adjustable resistance to exercise motions. Each of the above described devices however are directed to one mode of exercise for strengthening specific muscles.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an exercise device which is light weight and portable utilizing the user's body weight to provide resistance to the exercises.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercise device in which the glute and abdominal muscles are exercised while the user is in a prone or supine position.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercise device in which the exercise resistance is adjustable providing a means of progressive resistance exercise.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after referring to the following specification and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The exercise apparatus of the present invention includes a rigid frame having upper and lower back supports pivotally connected in axial alignment. Upper and lower back pads are mounted on the upper and lower back supports for supporting a user in a reclined position with the weight of the user providing resistance to the exercises. Leverage arms are mounted at the head end of the upper back support. The leverage arms extend above the rigid frame such that the free ends thereof may be grasped by the user while performing abdominal exercises. The lower back support includes handles extending outwardly from the foot end thereof for grasping by the user while performing glute exercises. A thigh pad is mounted on the upper end of a lever arm pivotally attached to the lower back support. Upon the application of lifting force against the thigh pad by the user, the lower back support of the rigid frame is raised along with the body of the user. Abdominal curls or crunching exercises are performed by grasping the leverage arms and pulling up the upper back support. The apparatus of the invention including means for collapsing the upper and lower back support members for forming a reduced storage profile.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
It is noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of the frame of the exercise apparatus of the invention;
FIG. 2
is a top plan view of the frame of the exercise apparatus of the invention;
FIG. 3
is a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus of the invention depicting a user in a reclining position on the exercise apparatus in the start position for the upper abdominal exercise;
FIG. 4
is a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus of the invention depicting a user on the exercise apparatus in the end position of the upper abdominal exercise;
FIG. 5
is a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus of the invention depicting a user in a reclining position on the exercise apparatus in the start position for the lower abdominal exercise;
FIG. 6
is a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus of the invention depicting a user on the exercise apparatus in the end position for the lower abdominal exercise;
FIG. 7
is a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus of the invention depicting a user in a reclining position on the exercise apparatus in the start position for the glute extension exercise;
FIG. 8
is a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus of the invention depicting a user on the exercise apparatus in the end position for the glute extension exercise;
FIG. 9
is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the exercise apparatus of the invention;
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of the invention shown in
FIG. 9
partially folded for under bed storage; and
FIG. 11
is a perspective of the exercise apparatus of the invention shown in
FIG. 9
fully folded for storage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the exercise apparatus of the invention, generally identified by the reference numeral
10
, is shown. The exercise apparatus
10
includes an upper back support frame member
12
and a lower back support frame member
14
. The frame members
12
and
14
are pivotally joined by pivot pins
16
and
17
, respectively, or other conventional pivot connector to a rigid frame
18
which supports the frame members
12
and
14
above a surface, such as a floor
20
, as shown in FIG.
3
. Back support pads
22
and
24
are mounted on frame members
12
and
14
, respectively. A user
26
is in a reclining position on the apparatus
10
with the weight of the user
26
being applied downwardly against the support pads
22
and
24
. The back support pads
22
and
24
may be covered with cushioning material for the comfort of the user while lying thereon to perform various exercises on the apparatus
10
.
Referring again to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the frame members of the apparatus
10
are shown without the back support pads
22
and
24
mounted thereon. The rigid frame
18
includes longitudinally extending support members
28
and
29
. The support members
28
and
29
are spaced from each other defining a gap therebetween. The support members
28
and
29
include posts
30
and
31
extending downwardly from one end of the support members
28
and
29
. The lower end of the posts
30
and
31
are mounted to a transverse base
32
. The opposite ends of the support members
28
and
29
include angularly extending portions
34
and
35
which extend downwardly and outwardly toward the floor
20
. The support members
28
and
29
include a horizontally extending portion between the opposite end thereof.
Referring still to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the frame members
12
and
14
include transverse members
36
and
38
attached at opposite ends thereof. The frame members
12
and
14
, the horizontal portion of support members
28
and
29
and transverse members
36
and
38
lie in a common horizontal plane for supporting the back support pads
22
and
24
. The support pads
22
and
24
(not shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
) are bolted or otherwise secured to the frame members
12
and
14
and transverse members
36
and
38
.
Leverage arms
40
are attached at the head end of the apparatus
10
at each end of the frame member
36
. The arms
40
extend vertically upward above the frame member
36
terminating at angularly extending handles
42
and extend downwardly from the frame member
36
to the support surface
20
, as shown in FIG.
3
. The arms
40
and rigid frame
18
support frame members
12
and
36
above the surface
20
.
A thigh pad assembly is pivotally connected below the frame member
14
. The thigh pad assembly comprises a lever arm
48
having rollers
50
mounted at the distal end of the lever arm
48
. The lever arm
48
is pivotally connected to a bracket connector
52
depending downwardly from the frame members
28
and
29
. The base
53
of the bracket
52
spans the gap
55
between the frame member
28
and
29
and is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom surface of the frame members
28
and
29
. A pair of legs depend downwardly from the base
53
to form the U-shaped bracket
52
. The bracket arms are spaced from each other and connected to the lever arm
48
at the lower ends thereof. A pivot pin
54
attaches the lever arm
48
to the distal ends of the bracket arms for pivotal movement about the pivot pin
54
.
Angular actuator arm
56
is attached at the upwardly, angularly extending end of the lever arm
48
by a lock pin
58
. The actuator arm
56
includes a lower portion which extends upwardly from the lever arm
48
away from the support pad
24
and an upper portion angled back toward the support pad
24
and extending above the support pad
24
. Thigh pads
60
are mounted on the upper end of the actuator arm
56
. The thigh pads
60
are adapted for contact by the upper legs or thighs of the user
26
. The rigid frame
18
and bracket
52
support the lower back support frame
14
above the surface
20
.
The lower back support frame
14
includes a lower resistance wheel
62
carried on the bottom side of the frame member
14
. The resistance wheel
62
is mounted on a post
64
depending downwardly from a channel bracket
66
secured to the frame member
14
by a lock pin
68
. A plurality of spaced openings
70
are spaced along the length of the bracket
66
for receiving the lock pin
68
within a selected opening
70
and aligned openings formed in the frame member
14
for selectively locating the resistance wheel
62
relative to the frame member
14
.
The position of the resistance wheel
62
relative to the pivot
17
may be adjusted by the user by removing the pin
68
and aligning an opening
70
with an openings formed in the frame member
14
and reinserting the pin
68
to lock the resistance wheel
62
to the frame member
14
. Adjusting the location of the resistance wheel
62
toward or away from the pivot pin
17
alters the resistance to the crunching exercises performed by the user
26
by varying the height or distance the lower back support frame
14
is raised as the thigh pad
60
is lifted by the user
26
.
In operation, user
26
grips the handles
42
of the arms
40
as shown in
FIG. 3. A
pulling force applied by the user
26
while performing crunching exercises pivots the upper back frame support upward to the position shown in
FIG. 4
thereby lifting the head end of the apparatus
10
off the surface
20
as the frame member
12
pivots about the pivot pin
16
. Resistance to such movement for exercising the upper abdominal muscles is provided by the body weight of the user
26
.
An alternate exercise for exercising the lower abdominal muscles is shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
. The user
26
grips the handles
42
of the arms
40
as shown in FIG.
5
and engages the thigh pads
60
with his upper legs or thighs. A lifting force applied by the user
26
against the thigh pads
60
pivots lever arm
48
to the position shown in FIG.
6
. As the lever arm
48
rotates upwardly, the resistance wheel
62
rolls on the surface of the lever arm
48
thereby forcing the lower back support upward as the lower back support frame member
14
pivots about the pivot
17
. Resistance to such movement for exercising the lower abdominal muscles is provided by the body weight of the user
26
on the support pad
24
and the resistance of the wheel
62
on the surface of the lever arm
48
. These exercises may be performed individually or simultaneously.
In
FIGS. 7 and 8
, operation of the apparatus
10
to perform another alternate exercise is shown. For this exercise, the user
26
first locks the frame member
12
to the rigid frame
18
by inserting a lock pin
72
through the frame members
28
,
12
and
29
. The user
26
then grasps the ends
39
of the frame member
38
which extend outward from below the support pad
24
and positions his legs over the thigh pads
60
for contact with the back of his thighs. A downward force applied by the user
26
against the thigh pads
60
pivots the lever arm
48
to the position shown in
FIG. 8
thereby lifting the foot end of the apparatus
10
off the surface
20
. As the lever arm
48
pivots about the pivot pin
54
, the rollers
50
roll a small distance as the foot end of the apparatus
10
lifts off the surface
20
. Resistance to such movement for exercising the glute muscles is provided by the body weight of the user
26
.
Weights
74
may be added on the handle grips
39
of the lower back support frame
14
or arms
40
of the upper back support frame
12
, or both, to increase exercise resistance.
Referring now to
FIGS. 9-11
, an alternate embodiment of the exercise apparatus of the invention, generally identified by the reference numeral
80
, is shown. The apparatus
80
is substantially similar to the apparatus
10
described above. Therefore, the same reference numerals will be used to identify like components. In the embodiment of
FIGS. 9-12
, a rigid base
82
comprises a transverse member
84
and a pair of longitudinally extending members
86
extending from the transverse member
84
toward the foot end of the apparatus
80
. The longitudinal members are spaced and parallel to each other to about the juncture
88
. At the juncture
88
, the members
86
diverge outward toward the foot end of the apparatus
80
. Upstanding support posts
90
extend upward from the diverging portions of the members
86
for supporting the lower back pad
24
above the surface
20
, but are not connected to the lower back pad
24
.
A pair of connector plates
92
connect the base
82
to the frame members
12
and
14
. The plates
92
are located between the members
86
adjacent to the transverse member
84
. Pins
94
and
96
extending through the members
86
and plates
92
secure the connector plates
92
to the base
82
. The lever arm
48
is pivotally connected to the base
82
by pivot pin
98
.
The apparatus
80
is utilized by the user
26
to perform abdominal and glute exercises in the manner previously described. The apparatus
80
however may be folded for convenient storage. To this end, the transverse member
36
is pivotally mounted to the head end of the frame member
12
. The member
36
extends below the frame member
12
and is connected thereto by a U-shaped bracket
100
. Pins
102
and
104
connect the transverse member
36
to the frame member
12
.
Referring now to
FIGS. 10 and 11
, the apparatus
80
is shown in various folded stages. In
FIG. 10
, removal of the lock pin
104
permits the handles
40
to be rotated downwardly so as to be substantially aligned with the upper back pad
22
. The actuator arm
56
has been disengaged from the lever arm
48
so that the apparatus
80
may be stored under a bed. In
FIG. 11
, the apparatus
80
is shown in the fully folded configuration. The handles
40
are rotated downward as noted above and pin
94
is removed permitting the plates
92
to pivot about pin
96
bringing the back pads
22
and
24
in facing contact. The apparatus may then be rolled to a convenient storage location:
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of the embodiment shown will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
- 1. An exercise apparatus, comprising:(a) a rigid frame having pivotally connected upper and lower back support members, said back support members having a head end and a foot end; (b) leverage means located at the head end of said upper back support member and at the foot end of said lower back support member for grasping by a user while performing exercises; (c) first pivot means disposed below said lower back support member; (d) second pivot means disposed proximate the head end of said lower back support; (e) actuating means for actuation by the user by engaging the back of a user's thighs with said actuating means for lifting an end of said rigid frame against resistance provided by the user's body weight; and (f) means for selectively locking said upper and lower body support members against relative pivotal movement.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first pivot means comprises a lever arm and an actuator arm pivotally secured to said rigid frame, said lever arm further including rollers mounted on an end thereof.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for collapsing said upper body support member and said lower body support member into facing contact, said rigid frame forming a reduced storage profile in said collapsed condition.
- 4. An exercise apparatus for working the glute and abdominal muscles, comprising:(a) a rigid frame having a head end and a foot end (b) means located on said rigid frame for grasping by a user while performing exercises; (c) bidirectional actuating means pivotally secured to said rigid frame for actuation by a user by engaging the back or front of the user's thigh with said actuating means to implement bidirectional movement of said actuation means in one direction with the back of the user's thigh and in opposite direction with the front of a user's thigh for lifting an end of said rigid frame against resistance provided by the user's body weight; and (d) pivot means for pivotally raising an end of said rigid frame against the resistance provided by the user's body weight.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rigid frame includes an upper body support frame member and a lower body support frame member pivotally connected in axial alignment.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 4 including means for selectively adjusting the force required for raising an end of said rigid frame against the resistance provided by the user's body weight.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pivot means comprises a lever arm and an actuator arm pivotally secured to said lower body support frame member, said lever arm further including rollers mounted on an end thereof.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for selectively adjusting the force for raising the foot end of said rigid frame comprises an adjustable resistance wheel secured proximate the foot end of said rigid frame.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said foot end of said rigid frame is raised by applying a downward force against said actuator arm.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 5 including means for locking said upper body support frame member and said lower body support frame member against relative pivotal movement.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 4 including weights selectively secured on said rigid frame to increase exercise resistance.
- 12. An exercise apparatus comprising:(a) a rigid frame having pivotally connected upper and lower back support member, said back support members having a head end and a foot end; (b) handle located at the head end of said upper back support member and at the foot end of said lower back support member for grasping by a user while performing exercises; (c) first pivot axis disposed below said lower back support member; (d) second pivot axis disposed proximate the head end of said lower back support; (e) a bidirectional actuator for actuation by the user by engaging the back or front of the user's thigh with said actuator in one direction with the back of the user's thigh and in the opposite direction with the front of the user's thigh for lifting said foot end of said lower back support member against resistance provided by the user's body weight, said bidirectional actuator including a lever arm pivotally secured to said rigid frame below said lower back support member; and (f) a resistance wheel secured proximate the foot end of said rigid frame below said lower back support member; said resistance wheel being in contact with said lever arm and rolling on said lever arm upon actuation of said bidirectional actuator by the front of the user's thigh to lift said foot end of said lower back support member.
US Referenced Citations (10)