1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise apparatus and more particularly, to an exercise apparatus which is used to exercise the abdomen of the human body in order to strengthen stomach muscles and flatten the stomach.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The inventor is aware of the following prior art which is related to the present invention:
1. Taiwanese Utility Model Publication No. 309775 entitled “Multifunctional Sit-Up Exerciser”;
2. Taiwanese Utility Model Publication No. 354904 entitled “Multifunctional Sit-Up Exerciser”;
3. Taiwanese Utility Model Publication No. 368879 entitled “Waist and Abdomen Exerciser”;
4. Taiwanese Utility Model Publication No. 494775 entitled “Sit-Up Exerciser”.
All of these Taiwanese Utility Model Publications employ plate bodies or metal tubes pivotally joined together to form the structure of the exercisers. The drawbacks of these structures are that in each case the structure is not rigid and the strength of the device is insufficient to support vigorous exercise and therefore, each device is shaky when in use. In other words, the possibility of dislocation between the joints of the structure may create a great effect on the safety of the exercisers and make them dangerous to use. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an abdominal exerciser which mitigates the above drawbacks.
The present invention is an abdominal exercise apparatus which enables the user to engage in a dual exercise motion at the same time. One motion is a seesaw up and down motion about a horizontal axis and the other is a twisting or swiveling motion. The twisting module portion of the omni-directional abdominal exerciser permits horizontal, vertical and diagonal motions at every angle between the vertical and horizontal planes.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an abdominal exerciser having a framework mounted with a moveable mechanism characterized in that the moveable mechanism has a main shaft end portion mounted with a leg-hooking module and the middle face of the end of the main shaft is a seat pad with a back support at its opposite end, and the two lateral walls of the main shaft corresponding to the middle section of the seat pad include a hollow inner clutching member, the end face of the hollow clutching member corresponding to one lateral side of the leg-hooking module and extends outwardly with an extending engaging block. The interior of the inner clutching member is provided with a rod for pivotal mounting. The framework includes a first supporting frame and a second supporting frame. The top portion of the two ends of the first supporting frame is a first clutching member which corresponds to the rod. The first clutching member is mounted at the external side of the clutching member at the main shaft. The end faces of the two lateral sides of the first clutching member are formed into the extending engaging block which is different from the extending engaging block of the inner clutching member. The top portion of the two ends of the second supporting frame is formed into the second clutching member which can be pivotally mounted to the rod. The second mounting member is mounted at the external side of the first clutching member. The second clutching member corresponds to the end face at one side of the first clutching member and is formed into an extending engaging block. The first extending engaging block and second extending engaging block are different from that of the first clutching member.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an abdominal exerciser having a framework mounted with a moveable mechanism, characterized in that the moveable mechanism has a main shaft end portion mounted with a leg-hooking module, and the top face of the middle of the main shaft is provided with a seat pad with a back support at the end. The main shaft between the two securing plates is provided with a twisting module, and the twisting module is provided with a clutching seat corresponding to and rotating about the bottom face of the main shaft. The end face of the two lateral sides of the clutching seat correspond to one side of the leg-hooking module and extends with an extending engaging block. Within the clutching seat a horizontal shaft is provided for the mounting of the framework. The framework includes a first supporting frame and a second supporting frame. The top portion of the two ends of the first supporting frame is a first clutching member which corresponds to the rod. The first clutching member is mounted at the external side of the clutching member at the main shaft. The end faces of the two lateral sides of the first clutching member are formed into an extending engaging block which is different from the extending engaging block of the inner clutching member. The top portion of the two ends of the second supporting frame is formed into the second clutching member which can be pivotally mounted to the rod. The second mounting member is mounted at the external side of the first clutching member. The second clutching member corresponding to the end face at one side of the first clutching member is formed into an extending engaging block. The first extending engaging block and the second extending engaging block are different from that of the first clutching member.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal exerciser, wherein the main shaft is mounted with a hollow clutching member and the bottom edge of the clutching member is formed into an extending engaging block. The interior of the clutching member is mounted with a downward facing pivotal shaft for the mounting of a clutching seat. The clutching seat has a hollow upright tube and a hollow horizontal tube, and the top face of the upright tube is formed into an extending engaging block which can be placed at the bottom end of the clutching member. The extending engaging block at the end face of the two lateral sides of the clutching seat is formed at the end face of the horizontal tube and the horizontal tube of the clutching seat is used for the passing through of the clutching seat so that the moveable mechanism is pivotally mounted to the framework.
The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated:
Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.
Referring to
The movable mechanism 10 comprises a main shaft 11 and a leg hooking module 2. The top face of the end of the hollow main shaft 11 is provided with a series of securing plates 12. A seat pad 13 is fastened to the securing plates 12. A seat pad 13 is fastened to the securing plates 12 by means of screws and nuts. The bottom face of the other end of the main shaft 11 is provided with a screw hole mount 14 installed with an adjustable bottom 15.
Referring to
The framework 30 includes a first supporting frame 31 and a second supporting frame 35. The frames 31 and 35 are pivotably mounted together as best illustrated in
The middle sections of the external edge at two lateral sides of the second supporting frame 35 are threaded openings 41 to receive a mounting plate 43 through threaded bolts 45. The mounting plate 43 in turn is attached to a handgrip tube 47 which in turn is attached to a hand grip 40. The top end of the handgrip 40 is mounted with an end plug 42. There are a pair of handgrips attached on opposite sides of second supporting frame 35, as illustrated in
Inserted into the ends of main frame 11 opposite the end into which sliding rod 20 was inserted is a back support tube 70. The tube 70 is inserted through an inner spacer 72 and retained in the main frame by a V-clip 74. A horizontal bar 76 supports the foam tubing 78 on opposite sides of tube 70.
The seesaw up and down motion of the abdominal exerciser of the present invention will now be described with reference to
When the user sits on the seat pad 13, the center of gravity is at the outside and due to the restriction of the extended engaging blocks 17 and 34 as shown in
As illustrated in
When the user wants to fold the exerciser which is illustrated in
A second exercise which can be performed with the abdominal exerciser is a swiveling motion. Referring to
Further, the end face of the two lateral sides of the horizontal tube 58 of the clutching seat 55, corresponding to one side of the leg-hooking module, is provided with an extended engaging block 59. The extended engaging block 59 is corresponding to the range outside the external engaging block 34 of the first supporting frame 31 of the framework 30. The horizontal tube of the clutching seat 55 is used for the mounting of the shaft rod 18 so that the movable mechanism 10 can be pivotally mounted to the framework 30, as shown in
Therefore, the exercises which can be performed with the abdominal exerciser are illustrated in
Therefore, the through use of the novel clutching mechanisms as discussed and illustrated, the user can concurrently perform horizontal, vertical and diagonal motions at every angle between the vertical and horizontal planes, to fully exercise all abdominal muscles. As described, the seat 13 rests on a central beam 11 containing a rotational joint (51, 52, 53, 56, 57) whose vertical axis extends from the floor to the ceiling. This rotational joint in turn is welded to a hinge joint (55, 58) that allows the leg extension to rotate around a horizontal axis up to a fixed angle, extending from the left to the right side of the apparatus.
The rotational joint allows lateral movement (side-to-side swiveling), while the hinge joint allows vertical movement (up-and-down dipping). The result is a freedom of movement constrained only by the range of movement actually allowed by the waist and hips of the user.
While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications and improvements may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiment, but only by the scope of the appended claims.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Defined in detail, the present invention is an abdominal exerciser having a framework mounted with a moveable mechanism characterized in that the moveable mechanism has a main shaft end portion mounted with a leg-hooking module and a top face of the end of the main shaft is provided with a seat pad, and two lateral walls of the main shaft corresponding to a middle section of the seat pad is extended with a hollow inner clutching member, the end face of the hollow clutching member corresponding to one lateral side of the leg-hooking module is extended with an extended engaging block, and the interior of the inner clutching member is provided with a rod for pivotal mounting, and the framework includes a first supporting frame and a second supporting frame, and the top portion of the two ends of the first supporting frame is a first clutching member which is supported on a rod; and the first clutching member is mounted at the external side of the clutching member at the main shaft, the end faces of the two lateral sides of the first clutching member are formed into an extended engaging block which is different from the extended engaging block of the inner clutching member, and the top portion of the two ends of the second supporting frame is formed into the second clutching member which is pivotally mounted to the rod, and the second mounting member is mounted at the external sides of the first clutching member, and the second clutching member corresponding to the end face at one side of the first clutching member is formed into an extended engaging block; and the extended engaging block is different from that of the first clutching member.
Defined alternatively, the present invention is an abdominal exerciser having a framework mounted with a moveable mechanism, characterized in that the moveable mechanism has a main shaft end portion mounted with a leg-hooking module, and a top face of the end of the main shaft is provided with a seat pad, and the main shaft between two securing plates which retain the seat pad is provided with a twisting module, and the twisting module is provided with a clutching seat corresponding to and rotating about the bottom face of the main shaft, and the end face of the two lateral sides of the clutching seat corresponding to one side of the leg-hooking module is extended with an extended engaging block, and within the clutching seat a horizontal shaft is provided for the mounting of the framework; the framework includes a first supporting frame and a second supporting frame, and the top portion of the two ends of the first supporting frame is a first clutching member which is supported on a rod, and the first clutching member is mounted at the external side of the clutching member at the main shaft, the end faces of the two lateral sides of the first clutching member are formed into an extended engaging block which is different from the extended engaging block of the inner clutching member, and the top portion of the two ends of the second supporting frame is formed into the second clutching member which is pivotally mounted to the rod, and the second mounting member is mounted at the external side of the first clutching member, and the second clutching member corresponding to the end face at one side of the first clutching member is formed into an extended engaging block; and the extended engaging block is different from that of the first clutching member.
Defined broadly, the present invention is an abdominal exerciser, comprising: (a) a frame which supports a seat on a top portion and a leg hooking module adjacent one end; (b) the frame comprising twisting means to enable the seat to be caused to move in a twisting motion; (c) the frame further comprising pivoting means to enable the seat to move in a pivotal seesaw motion; and (d) the twisting means and the pivoting means acting concurrently to enable horizontal, vertical and diagonal motion of the seat at every angle between vertical and horizontal planes.
Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.