U.S. patent application number 09/859957 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-21 for exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Stearns, Kenneth W..
Application Number | 20020173412 09/859957 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25332158 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020173412 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stearns, Kenneth W. |
November 21, 2002 |
Exercise apparatus
Abstract
An exercise device for performing progressive resistance type
exercises of the abdominal, leg, thigh and gluteal muscles includes
a generally horizontal extending base frame having a seat support
beam extending upwardly therefrom. Front and rear link members
pivotally connected to the base frame support an upper back pad and
lower back pad at the distal ends thereof. Handles are provided for
the user to grasp while exercising. A foot plate is supported at
one end of the base frame. One or more resistance straps provide
variable exercise resistance.
Inventors: |
Stearns, Kenneth W.;
(Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NICK A NICHOLS
P O BOX 16399
SUGARLAND
TX
774966399
|
Family ID: |
25332158 |
Appl. No.: |
09/859957 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/123 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/00065 20130101;
A63B 2208/0228 20130101; A63B 23/0405 20130101; A63B 21/0421
20130101; A63B 21/4047 20151001; A63B 23/0222 20130101; A63B
21/0552 20130101; A63B 2208/0233 20130101; A63B 21/055
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/123 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/02 |
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a base frame; a seat
supported on a seat support member, said seat support member
secured to said base frame; a lower back pad fixedly secured to an
end of a front support member pivotally connected to said base
frame and extending upwardly therefrom; an upper back pad pivotally
connected to an end of a rear support member, wherein said rear
support member is pivotally secured to said base frame at an
opposite end thereof; a foot plate secured to a front end of said
base frame; and an exercise resistance member adapted for resisting
the movement of said front support member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper back pad and said
lower back pad are pivotally linked end to end.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exercise resistance member
is joined at opposite ends thereof to said front support member and
said seat support member.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 including two or more exercise
resistance members.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 including linkage means pivotally
connection said upper back pad and said lower back pad to said base
frame wherein backward movement of said lower back pad forces said
upper back pad to pivot forward.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 including a stop member projecting
upwardly from said seat support member for limiting the pivotal
movement of said front support member.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 including multiple pivot connections
for pivotally connecting said front and rear support members to
pivot brackets mounted on said base frame.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 including a foot support bracket
pivotally securing said foot plate to said base frame, wherein said
foot support bracket includes a plurality of holes for locking said
foot plate in selected angular positions relative to said base
frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise device,
particularly a variable resistance device for strengthening the
abdominal and gluteal muscles.
[0002] 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 for the
exercises. A movable frame having a single non-adjustable 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.
[0003] 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 reclined position. The weight of the user is
utilized as the resistance for various exercises. U.S. Pat. No.
5,545,114 issued on Aug. 13, 1996 provides an exercise device for
exercising the upper and lower abdominal muscles and the back
muscles. The device includes rigid upper and lower back supports
which are pivotally joined. Resistance means attach to the pivotal
portions of the device for providing adjustable resistance to
exercise motions. Each of the above described devices however are
directed to one mode of exercise for strengthening specific
muscles.
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an exercise device which combines abdominal crunch and full
leg, thigh and hip extension exercises in one easy to use
machine.
[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
exercise device which may be set to isolate specific muscle
groups.
[0006] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an exercise device which automatically positions a user to look
forward while using the exercise machine.
[0007] 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 exercises.
[0008] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent after referring to the following
specification and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the present invention, an exercise device
is provided for progressive resistance type exercises of the
abdominal, leg, thigh and gluteal muscles. The exercise device
includes a generally horizontally extending base frame having a
seat support beam extending upwardly therefrom. An upper back pad
is pivotally connected to the base frame by a rear support member.
A lower back pad pivotally connected to the upper back pad is
supported by a front support member which is pivotally secured to
the base frame. Handles are provided for the user to grip while
exercising. A foot plate is supported at one end of the base frame
for engagement by the user while exercising. One or more resistance
members provide variable exercise resistance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] FIG. 1 is perspective view of the exercise device of the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the exercise device of the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the exercise de vice of the
invention illustrating the position of the exercise device at the
end of an exercise motion;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
the exercise device of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the exercise device shown in FIG.
4; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of the exercise device shown in FIG. 4
illustrating the position of the exercise device at the end of an
exercise motion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Referring first to FIG. 1, the exercise device of the
invention is generally identified by the reference numeral 10. The
exercise device 10 includes a base frame 12 comprising an elongated
rail 14 and transverse frame members 16 and 18 connected to the
distal ends of the rail 14. The rail 14 and frame members 16 and 18
form a I-beam configuration or profile providing stability to the
exercise device 10, which when in use is posisioned on a flat
surface, such as a floor.
[0019] The exercise device 10 includes an upper back pad 20 and a
lower back pad 22 which are pivotally joined by a rod 24 which
links the upper end of the lower back pad 22 to the lower end of
the upper back pad 20. Handles 26 are attached to the upper back
pad 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the handles 26 are located
near the head end of the upper back pad 20 and extend upwardly
therefrom for convenient grasping by a user while performing
various exercise routines. Handles or hand grips may also be
provided on the lower back pad 22 for the user to grip while
exercising.
[0020] The upper and lower back pads 20 and 22 are supported above
the base frame 12 by a front support member 28 and rear support
member 30 which pivotally link the upper and lower back pads 20 and
22 to the rail 14 of the base frame 12. The lower end of the front
support member 28 is attached to a rail bracket 32 by a pivot pin
34 extending through aligned holes formed in the rail bracket 32
and a first hole extending through the front support member 28
adjacent the lower end thereof. A second hole 36 near the lower end
of the front support member 28 provides an alternate location for
attaching the front support member 28 to the rail bracket 32. The
upper end of the front support member 28 is attached to a bracket
38 which is fixedly secured to the back of the lower back pad 22.
Lock pins 40 and 42 secure the upper end of the front support
member 28 to the bracket 38.
[0021] Referring still to FIG. 2, rear support member 30 connects
the upper back pad 20 to the base frame 12. The rear support member
30 extends between brackets 44 and 46 located on the base rail 14
and the back of the upper back pad 20, respectively. The bracket 44
extends upwardly from the base rail 14 near the transverse base
member 18. The bracket 44 includes two sets of holes 48 for
receiving a removable lock pin 49 therethrough for pivotally
connecting the lower end of the rear support member 30 to the
bracket 44. The second or inner most hole 48 provides an alternate
pivot lock location for reducing the crunch movement of the upper
back pad 20. Additional holes 48 may be provided in the bracket 44
for increasing the number of pivot location for the rear support
member 30 and thereby providing the user with a greater selection
for setting the crunch movement, i.e. increasing or decreasing the
pivotal movement of the upper lower back pad 20, relative to the
lower body workout. The exercise device 10 may also be set in a no
crunch movement mode by removing the lock pin 49 and connecting the
lower end of the rear support member 30 to the second hole 36 in
the first support member 28. In this arrangement, the lower ends of
the front and rear support members are locked together so that no
crunch movement is achieved during the exercise motion.
[0022] A seat support beam 50 supports a seat 52 above the base
rail 14. The seat 52 is spaced from the bottom end of the lower
back pad 22 but is in alignment therewith for supporting a user in
a slightly reclined upright position on the exercise device 10. The
support beam 50 is secured to the base rail 14 by a support beam
bracket 54. The bracket 54 is provided with two sets of holes for
receiving lock pins 56 and 58 therethrough for locking the seat
support beam 50 to the base rail 14. A post 53 projects upwardly
from the seat support beam 50. The post 53 functions as a stop for
limiting the downward pivotal motion of the front support member
28.
[0023] Referring still to FIG. 2, exercise resistance is provided
by resistance straps 60 affixed at one end to the front support
member 28 and at the opposite ends thereof to the seat support beam
50. The straps 60 may be conventional springs or rubber straps.
Other biasing means, such as hydraulic pistons, pulleys and weights
or other resistance methods known in the art, may be utilized
instead of rubber straps. The resistance straps 60 are mounted on
anchor posts 62 and 64 projecting outwardly from the front link 28
and the seat support beam 50, respectively. One or more straps 60
may be utilized to vary the resistance provided by the exercise
device 10. The anchor posts 62 and 64 may be integrally formed with
the support member 28 and the seat support beam 50, respectively,
or may extend through holes formed in the support member 28 and the
seat support beam 50.
[0024] The forward end of the base frame 12 is provided with a foot
plate 66 supported by a foot plate support arm 68. A pivot pin 70
pivotally connects the support arm 68 to a bracket 72 secured to
the frame rail 14 adjacent the front transverse frame member 16.
The support arm 68 is free to rotate about the pivot pin 70. A stop
74 projecting downwardly from the support arm 68 is provided to
limit the angular rotation of the support arm 68 and thereby
position the foot plate 66 for engagement by the user while
performing exercise routines. Multiple holes may be formed in the
bracket 72 so that the foot plate 66 may be locked in multiple
angular positions relative to the base frame 12.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, use of the exercise device
10 to perform an exercise routine will be described in greater
detail. In the start position of the device 10 shown in FIG. 3, the
user sits on the exercise device 10 with his upper and lower back
in contact with the upper and lower back pads 20 and 22,
respectively. The feet of the user engage the foot plate 66 and his
hands grip the handles 26. As the user presses back against the
upper and lower back pads 20, 22 and against the foot plate 66, the
user's buttocks raise off the seat 52. Resistance is provided by
the resistance straps 60 as the user extends his body while
simultaneously pulling on the handles 26 to pivot the upper back
pad 20 downwardly about the pivot rod 24. The user's efforts are
aided by the rear support member 30 which forces the upper back pad
20 forward about the pivot rod 24 as the user presses against the
back pads 20 and 22. The exercise motion is completed when the
user's body is completely extended forcing the exercise device 10
to the end position shown in FIG. 5. The linked arrangement of the
exercise device 10 requires no coordination from the user to
properly complete the exercise motion. The linked motion of the
exercise device 10 permits the user to combine abdominal crunch and
leg, thigh and hip extension exercises in one fluid motion. The
linked arrangement of the exercise device 10 also ensures that the
user always looks forward throughout the exercise routine. The user
may therefore watch TV or other monitor device rather than staring
at the ceiling while exercising as is common with many other
machines for exercising the abdominal muscles.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of the
exercise device of the invention is generally identified by the
reference numeral 80. The exercise device 80 is very similar to the
exercise device 10 previously described herein so the same
reference numerals are employed to identify similar components. In
the embodiment of FIG. 4, one or more resistance bands 82 are
coupled to the rear support member 30 at one end thereof and to an
upstanding bracket 84 at the rear of the base frame 12 at the
opposite ends of the resistance bands 82. The lower end of the rear
support member 30 is pivotally connected to the frame rail 14 at a
bracket 86 which is located forward of the connection point of the
lower end of the front support member 28. The seat 52 is fixedly
secured to the lower end of the lower back pad 22 so that the seat
52 moves with the lower back pad 22.
[0027] Referring still to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the rear
support member 30 comprises a forklike support member formed by a
pair of lever arms 88 spaced from each other and pivotally
connected at the lower ends thereof to the bracket 86 secured to
the frame rail 14. The opposite ends of the lever arms 88 are
welded or otherwise secured to a support beam 92, which in turn is
pivotally connected to the pivot bracket 46. The lever arms 88
define a gap between them so that the front support member 28
passes through the gap between the lever arms 88 and pivotally
connects to the bracket 32 mounted to the frame rail 14. Downward
pivotal movement of the front support member 28 is limited by the
stop member 94 projecting upwardly from the frame rail 14.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the movement of the exercise
device 80 is the reverse of the motion described above relating to
the exercise device 10. In this arrangement, the user lowers down.
That is, the user pulls down on the handles 26 and up against toe
straps 96 securing his feet to the foot plate 66. As the user pulls
forward, the lower back pad 22 moves downward as the user's upper
torso and lower body come together simultaneously, thereby
performing a "double crunch." During the lowering down motion, the
front support member 28 pivots downwardly about the pivot pin 34
until it engages the stop 94. The resistance bands 82 oppose the
lowering down motion thereby providing exercise resistance which
may be varied by adding or removing resistance bands 82.
[0029] While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown
and described, other and further embodiments of the invention may
be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the
scope thereof is determined by the claims which follow.
* * * * *