Patent Application
20050009673
The present invention generally relates to abdominal exercise devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable abdominal exercise device for use in association with a chair, and which can be stored and transported easily.
Abdominal exercises, such as crunches or sit-ups, are performed to strengthen the abdominal and lower back muscles. It is well-known that performing abdominal exercises can strengthen the back to avoid back injuries, and trim the waist of the exerciser. These abdominal exercises are performed by bringing the torso towards the bent knees of the exerciser. Such exercises can be performed while sitting in a chair, or lying on the ground. When lying on the ground, gravity provides resistance to raising the torso towards the knees resulting in increased strength to the abdominal muscles. The resistance of gravity while performing such exercises when seated in a chair only has an effect when raising the torso away from the knees, thus lessening the desired effect on the abdominal muscles.
There exist many abdominal muscle exercising machines. Some of these are large and cumbersome and restricted to the gym or home setting. Others are more portable, but still rather complicated in use or generally ineffective. Moreover, even many of these “portable” exercise devices are not very compact for storage and transportation, such as when traveling.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an abdominal exercise device which is portable and which can be disassembled for ease of transportation such as when traveling. Such an abdominal exercise device should assist a user thereof in obtaining resistance, and thus target the abdominal muscles, when in the seated position. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.
The present invention resides in a portable exercise device for use in association with a backrest of a chair. The abdominal exercise device of the present invention is small, can be disassembled for transportation, and is relatively inexpensive.
The abdominal exercise device of the present invention includes one or more elastomeric resistance bands which are adapted to encircle the backrest of the chair. The one or more elastomeric resistance bands are preferably connected to a back support plate. Typically, the back support plate includes means on opposing edges thereof for removably receiving ends of the resistance bands. In a particularly preferred embodiment, such means comprise slots extending from edges of the back support plate to apertures formed in the back support plate. A portion of the resistance band can be inserted into the slot, and ends of the resistance bands are enlarged with respect to the apertures so as not to pass therethrough. Although as few as a single resistance band may be used, preferably multiple resistance bands are utilized so that the amount of the resistance can be varied.
An elongated strap adapted to fit a torso of a user is typically connected to the back support plate, although the resistance bands may be directly connected to the elongated strap. The back support plate includes a pair of spaced apart apertures which removably accept the strap therethrough in looped fashion. The strap has free ends including means which are adapted to be releasably coupled to one another. Preferably, the strap is adjustable in length and includes padded sections for user comfort.
In use, the one or more elastic bands are stretched over the backrest of the chair and coupled to the back support plate. The elongated strap is connected to the back support plate, and coupled to the torso of the user. As the user moves his or her torso away from the backrest and towards his or her knees, the elastomeric bands resist this movement causing the muscles to experience resistance.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:
As shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a portable abdominal exercise device, generally referred to by the reference number 10, which is particularly adapted for use in association with a backrest 12 of a chair 14 to provide resistance to a user 16 seated in the chair 14 while performing abdominal exercises.
With reference to
With reference now to
The resistance bands 18 are preferably connected to a back support plate 20. Although the resistance bands 18 may be permanently attached to the back support plate 20, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the resistance bands 18 are removably connected to the back support plate 20 so that the resistance of the device 10 can be altered, and the device 10 can be easily disassembled for compact storage and transportation, such as when traveling. Accordingly, the back support plate 20 includes means for removably attaching to the free ends 22 of the resistance bands 18. In a particularly preferred embodiment, as illustrated, opposing edges of the back support plate 20 include a plurality of slots 24 which extend to apertures 26. The free ends 22 of the resistance bands 18 are enlarged. In a particularly preferred embodiment, surgical-type tubing comprises the resistance bands 18. Steel or plastic balls are inserted into the open free end to enlarge the end 22. The elastomeric tubing is slid through the slot 24 until the enlarged end 22 contacts the aperture 26. As the enlarged end 22 is larger than the aperture 26, it cannot pass therethrough and thus the free ends 22 of the resistance bands 18 are releasably held to the back support plate 20. Such arrangement is shown in
As shown in the various figures, an elongated strap 28 is connected to the back support plate, generally opposite the resistance bands 18. To facilitate transport and storage of the device 10, the strap 28 is preferably removably attached to the back support plate 20. In this regard, the back support plate 20 includes spaced apart slots 30 which are configured to receive the strap 28 therethrough, as shown in
In use, as shown in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the device 10 of the present invention is simple in operation and relatively inexpensive. Furthermore, the device 10 is small so as to be portable. Due to its design, the device 10 can be disassembled so that it can be easily transported and stored. The device 10 of the present invention also provides varying resistance by changing the number or type of resistance bands 18.
Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made with out departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.
