U.S. patent application number 11/807688 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-13 for abdominal exercise chair with flexible back bar and rotating seat.
Invention is credited to Johann B. Verheem.
Application Number | 20070287618 11/807688 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38802049 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070287618 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Verheem; Johann B. |
December 13, 2007 |
Abdominal exercise chair with flexible back bar and rotating
seat
Abstract
An abdominal exercise chair includes two or more spinal blocks
flexibly engaged together along with one or more resistance
elements to provide resistance and support for a user's back as the
user bends forward, backward, to the side and twists to perform
exercise. One or more handles at the top of the spinal support
column enable a user to engage their hands to pull and twist while
keeping their spine adjacent to the spinal support.
Inventors: |
Verheem; Johann B.; (San
Clememte, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Crockett & Crockett
Suite 400, 24012 Calle De La Plata
Laguna Hills
CA
92653
US
|
Family ID: |
38802049 |
Appl. No.: |
11/807688 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60809361 |
May 31, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/448 20130101;
A63B 21/045 20130101; A47C 7/445 20130101; A63B 2208/0233 20130101;
A63B 23/0211 20130101; A47C 7/405 20130101; A63B 23/0233
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/140 |
International
Class: |
A63B 26/00 20060101
A63B026/00; A63B 71/00 20060101 A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. An abdominal exercise chair comprising: a support frame; a seat
pivotally secured to the support frame; a spinal guide having a
base and a top, the base adjustably secured to the support frame,
the spinal guide including three or more spinal blocks flexibly
secured together using a connector between each of the three or
more spinal blocks; one or more resistance elements secured between
each of the three or more spinal blocks to provide exercise
resistance; and a handle secured to the top of the spinal
guide.
2. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 1 further comprising: a
padded cover enclosing the spinal guide.
3. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 1 further comprising: a
headrest secured to the top of the spinal guide.
4. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 1 further comprising: a
tension adjustment spool securing the one or more resistance
elements to the spinal guide.
5. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 1 wherein the one or more
resistance elements are rubber tubes.
6. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 1 wherein the one or more
resistance elements are silicon bands.
7. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 1 wherein the one or more
resistance elements are springs.
8. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 4 wherein the one or more
resistance elements are rubber tubes.
9. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 4 wherein the one or more
resistance elements are silicon bands.
10. The abdominal exercise chair of claim 4 wherein the one or more
resistance elements are springs.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from copending U.S.
Provisional patent application 60/809,361 filed May 31, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The inventions described below relate to the field of
exercise equipment and more specifically to the field of abdominal
and back exercisers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0003] In an age of exercise and fitness, the time-honored
exercises are under attack as potentially damaging if done
incorrectly especially if performed by someone in poor physical
condition.
SUMMARY
[0004] An abdominal exercise chair includes two or more spinal
blocks flexibly engaged together along with one or more resistance
elements to provide resistance and support for a user's back as the
user bends forward, backward, to the side and twists to perform
exercise. One or more handles at the top of the spinal support
column enable a user to engage their hands to pull and twist while
keeping their spine adjacent to the spinal support.
[0005] An abdominal exercise chair includes a support frame, a seat
pivotally secured to the support frame, a spinal guide having a
base and a top, the base adjustably secured to the support frame,
the spinal guide including three or more spinal blocks flexibly
secured together using a connector between each of the three or
more spinal blocks, one or more resistance elements secured between
each of the three or more spinal blocks to provide exercise
resistance, and a handle secured to the top of the spinal
guide.
[0006] The abdominal exerciser chair provides exercise to the
mid-section of a human body by providing a combination of movements
and resistance for a user to optimize exercise and minimize
discomfort.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an abdominal exercise
chair.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of an abdominal exercise chair flexed
forward.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an abdominal exercise chair
with the spinal blocks exposed.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the abdominal exercise
chair of FIG. 3 taken along A-A.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an abdominal exercise
chair.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS
[0012] Abdominal exercise chair 10 of FIG. 1 includes seat 12
rotatably secured to frame 13, spinal guide 14, pad or headrest 16
and handles 18.
[0013] In use, as shown in FIG. 2, a user seated on seat 12 reaches
back over each shoulder and grasps handles 18 and may bend forward
pulling spinal guide 14 against one or more resistance elements
such as resistance element 20. A user may also bend to a side
working against the resistance elements and or twist against the
resistance elements to perform abdominal exercise. Any suitable
combination of these motions may also be performed. Spinal guide 14
may enclose the resistance elements for safety and provide padded
support to a user's spine during exercise.
[0014] Abdominal exercise chair 10 of FIG. 3 is illustrated with
protective cover, spinal cover 22 removed to expose the spinal
blocks forming spinal guide 14. Spinal socket 23 engages frame post
13P and may provide vertical adjustment to configure the abdominal
exercise chair to correspond to each user's physical dimensions.
Spinal socket 23 is secured to mounting block 14M mounting block
14M is also the lowest point of attachment for the one or more
resistance elements 20. Mounting block 14M may adopt any suitable
configuration to enable swiveling and or flexing at the base of
spinal guide 14. One or more spinal blocks such a spinal blocks 14B
are flexibly secured between mounting block 14M and top spinal
block 14T. Handle post 24 is secured to top spinal block 14T for
adjustable attachment of headrest 16 and a handle or handles such
as handles 18L and 18R.
[0015] Any suitable technique may be employed to provide
flexibility between spinal blocks. For example, spinal guide 14 of
FIG. 4 includes a connector 25 between each spinal block such as
between mounting block 14M and spinal block 14B, between adjacent
spinal blocks 14B, and between spinal block 14B and top spinal
block 14T. Connectors such as connector 25 may provide two or more
degrees of freedom. One or more resistance elements 20 are
removable engaged through each spinal block to provide adjustable
tension for a user to exercise against. Swivel assembly 12S secures
seat 12 to frame 13 and permits a user to swivel while exercising
and thus further exercise the user's abdominal muscles.
[0016] Abdominal exercise chair 10 of FIG. 5 is exploded to
illustrate a suitable configuration. Frame 13 engages legs 26 to
provide stable support for seat swivel assembly 12S which in turn
supports seat 12. Frame post 13P supports spinal socket 23 engaged
to mounting block 14M. Adjacent spinal blocks such as spinal block
27 and spinal block 29 are flexibly engaged by connector 25.
Connector 25 may include swivel post 30 rotatably engaged to
connector block 32. Connector block 32 engages bend connector 34 on
spinal block 27 which permits connector 25 to pivot about X-axis
35X relative to spinal block 27. Swivel post 30 engages spinal
block 29 using one or more pins such as pins 36 to permit movement
parallel to Z-axis 35Z between swivel post 30 and spinal block 29
along with rotation between swivel post 30 and spinal block 29
about Z-axis 35Z.
[0017] Resistance elements 20 engage each spinal block through
channels such as channel 40. Resistance elements may be formed as
tubes or bands of any suitable elastic material such as rubber,
silicone or the like or they may be springs. Mounting block 14M may
also include an adjustment such as adjustment spool 41 that permits
adjustment of the tension applied by resistance elements 20.
[0018] While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods
have been described in reference to the environment in which they
were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of
the inventions. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised
without departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope
of the appended claims.
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