Patent Application
20170173383
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to physical training machines, and in particular, to exercise machines commonly referred to a portable Abs exercise device that can be used on the floor or a raised platform.
Whereas people today are more conscious of fitness thanks to the ever-improved living standard, fitness equipment has become very popular. However, some of the fitness equipment emphasizing sit up in bear hands may get too rough and violent resulting in stretch in larger angles that causes injuries to the user having overweighed problem or in middle ages or elder. Furthermore, the sit up may become so monotonous and the user may be disinterested very quickly. Besides, fitness equipment generally available in the market either consumes too much space at home or is very expensive, plus other factors, such as the users in a family whose age, physical strength vary, the confined space available at home, the limit to only one function, and nature and length of training session.
Abs exercise apparatuses commonly feature a standing frame, which requires a significant amount of storage space. Even when folded, the exercise apparatus with a changed length may still be bulky in size, occupying too much space for storage or during delivery. Thus, the conventional Abs exercise apparatuses require further improvements.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.
Various embodiments and aspects of the inventions will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present inventions.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.
According to some embodiments, a portable Abs exercise device includes a base frame, a moveable frame and an elongate member coupling the base frame and the moveable frame, such that the moveable frame can swing vertically, while swinging horizontally with respect to the base frame. The base frame can be placed on a floor together with the moveable frame in a flat configuration, when the elongate member is positioned in a substantially horizontally. In the flat configuration, the moveable frame can swing left and right with respect to the base frame, while the moveable frame and the base frame are supported by a relatively flat surface. Alternatively, the base frame can be placed on a raised platform, such as, a bench, a table, a couch, etc. to allow a user to site on a base pad of the base frame, while place at least one of the user's feet downwardly on the moveable frame that is positioned at a level lower than the base frame.
In one embodiment, the base frame further includes a pair of handles to allow the user to hold or grab onto the handles while twist the legs of the user on the moveable frame to wing left and right horizontally. Alternatively, the user can knee on the base pad, while holding onto a lateral bar of the moveable frame to wing the moveable frame left and right horizontally. The base frame may further include a first pair of hooks while the moveable frame may include a second pair of hooks to connect a pair of elastic cord members or bands to provide additional resistance when the moveable frame swings vertically and/or horizontally with respect to the base frame. The moveable frame further includes one or more wheels loosely mounted at a bottom of the moveable frame to provide support and a smooth transaction when the moveable frame is placed on a relatively flat surface and swings left and right horizontally. The direction of the wheels can be automatically changed in response to a movement or swing direction of the moveable frame with respect to the base frame.
In a particular embodiment, an exercise device includes a base frame having a base plate, a base pad mounted on the base plate, a first handle mounted on a first side of the base plate, and a second handle mounted on a second side of the base plate. The base frame further includes a first mounting bracket mounted on a mounting plate extended from the base plate via a first hinge to allow the first mounting bracket to swing horizontally with respect to the mounting plate. The exercise device further includes a movable frame having a second mounting bracket mounted disposed thereon, and an elongate member coupling the base frame and the moveable frame. The elongate member includes a first end rotatably coupled to the first mounting bracket of the base frame via a second hinge to allow the elongate member to swing vertically with respect to the base plate. The elongate member further includes a second end fixedly coupled to the second mounting bracket of the moveable frame to allow the moveable frame to swing horizontally with respect to the base frame via the first hinge, while swinging vertically with respect to the base frame via the second hinge.
In one embodiment, base frame 101 includes a base pad 106 mounted on a base plate 107, a first handle 104 mounted on a first side of base plate 107, and a second handle 105 mounted on a second side of base plate 107. The hands of a user can hold onto handles 104-105 while sitting on base pad 106 for providing additional strength and safety measures.
Base plate 107 further includes a mounting plate 109 extended outwardly to allowing mounting bracket 108 to rotatably mounted on mounting plate 109 via a second hinge 120. In this embodiment, first hinge 110 allows elongate member 102 to swing vertically with respect to base plate 107, while second hinge 120 allows elongate member 102 together with mounting bracket 108 to swing horizontally with respect to base plate 107, as shown in side views of
In one embodiment, moveable frame 103 includes a lateral bar 112 and a U-shape support bar 111 coupled to each other. The ends of U-shape bar 111 may be counted on lateral bar 112 using a pair of screws, which forms a first end section 113, a second end section 114, and a center section 115. Center section 115 may be covered or enclosed by a soft material such as foam. The length of center section 115 is long enough such that both feet of a user can insert into an opening between U-shape bar 111 and center section 115, while the user sits on base pad 106 of base frame 101. Alternatively, any of the feet of the user can rest or hook onto any one of end sections 113-114 while sitting on base pad 106. Examples of usage of exercise device 100 are shown in
Note that base frame 101 can be placed on a flat structure or surface (as shown in
Referring to
According to one embodiment, exercise device 100 includes a first wheel 118 mounted on a first wheel mounting bracket 116 and a second wheel 119 mounted on a second wheel mounting bracket 117. Each of wheel mounting brackets 116-117 may be formed in a U-shape to mount the corresponding wheel therein. Wheels 118-119 are configured to provide support and a smooth transaction on a support surface (e.g., floor), when moveable frame 103 swings horizontally with respect to base frame 101, as shown in
Referring now to
In one embodiment, each of elongate sections 131-132 includes an array of locking holes (e.g., locking hole 136) disposed thereon. The locking holes can be aligned to interlock elongate sections 131-132 using a locking pin 135 inserted into a pair of aligned locking holes. Each of locking holes of elongate section 131 can be aligned with any of locking holes of elongate section 132 to adjust the length of overall elongate member 102.
In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.
