U.S. patent application number 09/987623 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-27 for abdominal exercising machine.
Invention is credited to Tang, Jack.
Application Number | 20030060347 09/987623 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21686640 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030060347 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tang, Jack |
March 27, 2003 |
Abdominal exercising machine
Abstract
An abdominal exercising machine is constructed to include a
machine base formed of a first frame and a second frame axially
adjustably fastened together, a footplate mounted on the second
frame at the top for the resting of the user's feet, a seat fixedly
mounted on the first frame for the user to sit, a back support, the
back support having a first supporting frame pivoted to the first
frame and holding a lower back cushion and a second supporting
frame hinged to the first supporting frame and holding an upper
back cushion, two handlebars symmetrically extended from the second
supporting frame for the holding of the user's hands, and a damping
device coupled between the first supporting frame of the back
support and the first frame of the machine base.
Inventors: |
Tang, Jack; (Taipei Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.
624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Family ID: |
21686640 |
Appl. No.: |
09/987623 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/141 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/0222
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/141 |
International
Class: |
A63B 026/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 27, 2001 |
TW |
90216533 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An abdominal exercising machine comprising: a machine base
provided with a first frame and a second frame, said first frame
and said second frame having a respective rear end coupled to each
other; a footplate mounted on a top side of said second frame of
said machine base for the resting of the user's feet; a seat
fixedly mounted on the first frame of said machine base for the
user to sit; a back support, said back support comprising a first
supporting frame pivoted to said first frame of said machine base,
a lower back cushion fixedly mounted on said first supporting
frame, a second supporting frame pivoted to a top end of said first
supporting frame, and an upper back cushion fixedly mounted on said
second supporting frame; two handlebars symmetrically extended from
said second supporting frame of said back support for the holding
of the user's hands; and a damping device coupled between said
first supporting frame of said back support and said first frame of
said machine base.
2. The abdominal exercising machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said first frame of said machine base comprises a tubular rear end
adapted to receive a part of said second frame and a lock screw
mounted in said tubular rear end and adapted to lock the inserted
part of said second frame; said second frame of said machine base
has a rear end insertable in the tubular rear end of said first
frame and a longitudinal series of locating holes disposed in the
rear end and selectively fastened to the lock screw of said first
frame.
3. The abdominal exercising machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said seat comprises a seat frame fixedly fastened to said first
frame of said machine base, and a seat cushion fixedly mounted on a
top side of said seat frame.
4. The abdominal exercising machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said first frame of said machine base has a lug, and the first
supporting frame of said back support is pivoted to said lug of
said first frame of said machine base.
5. The abdominal exercising machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said first supporting frame is provided at the top end thereof with
a hinge, and said second supporting frame is connected to said
hinge.
6. The abdominal exercising machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said handlebars each have a rear end fixedly covered with a
flexible handgrip.
7. The abdominal exercising machine as claimed in claim 1 further
comprising an elastic member connected between said first
supporting frame of said back support and said first frame of said
machine base.
8. The abdominal exercising machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein
said elastic member is an elastic band.
9. The abdominal exercising machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein
said elastic member is a spring.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a physical
exercising machine, and more particularly to an abdominal
exercising machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Following the improvement of living standard, modern people
do care about the health. Therefore, proper exercise is needed to
modern people. However, due to the radiation of the sun, less
people would like to do exercises outdoors. Nowadays, a variety of
indoor exercising machines have been disclosed, and have appeared
on the market. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional abdominal
exercising machine 1. This abdominal exercising machine 1 is
generally comprised of a machine base 2, a back frame 3, a thigh
and knee exercising unit 4, and two handles 5. When in use, the
user lies on the cushion at the top side of the machine base 2 and
the cushion on the back frame 4 with the hands holding the handles
5 and the legs hooking in the thigh and knee exercising unit 4 to
exercise the muscles of abdominal area. This structure of abdominal
exercising machine is still not satisfactory in function. Because
the user's back is not well supported during exercising, the user's
neck tends to be injured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an abdominal exercising machine, which prevents athletic injury
during exercising.
[0004] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
an abdominal exercising machine, which has a simple structure and,
is convenient to operate.
[0005] To achieve these objectives of the present invention, the
abdominal exercising machine comprises a machine base formed of a
first frame and a second frame axially adjustably fastened
together, a footplate mounted on the second frame at the top for
the resting of the user's feet, a seat fixedly mounted on the first
frame for the user to sit, a back support, the back support
comprising a first supporting frame pivoted to the first frame and
holding a lower back cushion and a second supporting frame hinged
to the first supporting frame and holding an upper back cushion,
two handlebars symmetrically extended from the second supporting
frame for the holding of the user's hands, and a damping device
coupled between the first supporting frame of the back support and
the first frame of the machine base.
[0006] Further, an elastic band or return spring may be used and
connected between the first supporting frame of the back support
and the first frame of the machine frame, for enabling the user to
pull back the back support with less effort.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an abdominal exercising machine according
to the prior art.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an abdominal exercising
machine according to a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment
of the present invention when it is in use.
[0011] FIG. 5 is another schematic view of the present invention
when it is in use.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a side view of a second preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side view of a third preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an abdominal exercising machine
10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment is shown
comprised of a machine base 20, a footplate 30, a seat 40, a back
support 50, two handlebars 60, and a damping device 70.
[0015] The machine base 20 is comprised of a first frame 21 and a
second frame 22. The first frame 21 has a lock screw 23 at the top
of the tubular rear end thereof. The second frame 22 has a
longitudinal series of locating holes 24 disposed in the rear end
thereof and selectively fastened to the lock screw 23. When the
lock screw 23 loosened from the locating holes 24, the first frame
21 and the second frame 22 can be moved axially relative to each
other to adjust the length of the base frame 20. When adjusted, the
lock screw 23 is fastened to the corresponding locating hole 24 of
the second frame 22 to lock the machine base 20 in the desired
length.
[0016] The footplate 30 is comprised of a mounting bar 32 fixedly
fastened to the second frame 22 at the top, and a plate 31 fixedly
fastened to the mounting bar 32.
[0017] The seat 40 is comprised of a seat frame 41 fixedly mounted
on the first frame 21 of the machine base 20, and a seat cushion 42
fixedly mounted on the seat frame 41.
[0018] The back support 50 is comprised of a first supporting frame
53 pivoted to a front lug 26 of the first frame 21 of the machine
base 20, a lower back cushion 52 fixedly mounted on the first
supporting frame 53, a second supporting frame 54, a hinge 531
connected between the first supporting frame 53 and the second
supporting frame 54 for enabling the second supporting frame 54 to
be turned relative to the first supporting frame 53 within a
limited angle, and an upper back cushion 51 fixedly mounted on the
front side of the second supporting frame 54. The handlebars 60 are
symmetrically extended from the back side of the second supporting
frame 54 of the back support 50, each having a rear end fixedly
covered with a flexible (sponge) grip 61.
[0019] The damping device 70 according to this embodiment is a
hydraulic cylinder coupled between the first supporting frame 53 of
the back support 50 and the first frame 21 of the machine base 20,
and adapted to buffer the oscillation motion of the back support 50
relative to the machine base 20.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when in use, the user sits on
the seat cushion 42 with the feet rested on the footplate 30, the
back rested on the back support 50, and the hands holding the
handlebars 60. When ready, alternatively bend and extend out the
trunk to exercise the muscles of the abdomen. When extending out
the trunk, the pressure from the user to the back support 50 must
surpasses the damping resistance of the damping device 70. On the
contrary, when pulling back the back support 50, the damping device
70 imparts a pressure to the backward movement of the back support
50 to buffer the moving speed of the back support 50. Alternatively
bending and extending out the trunk, the muscles of the user's
abdomen are trained. Because the damping device 70 buffers the
forwards and backwards moving speed of the back support 50, no
sudden pressure is produced against the user's neck. Therefore, the
abdominal exercising machine 10 is safe in use. Further, a
pneumatic cylinder may be used instead of the hydraulic cylinder
70.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention. According to this embodiment, the abdominal exercising
machine 10A comprises an elastic member 80, for example, an elastic
band coupled between a first supporting frame 53 of the back
support 50 and a first frame 21 of the machine base 20. When the
back support 50 turned forwards, the elastic member 80 is
stretched. When the back support 50 turned backwards, the elastic
member 80 returns to its former shape to pull the back support 50
backwards. Therefore, the user can pull the back support 50
backwards with less effort.
[0022] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of an abdominal exercising
machine 10B of the present invention. According to this embodiment,
a return spring 81 is connected between the back support 50 and the
machine base 20 instead of the aforesaid elastic member 80.
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