Exercising Apparatus

Abstract

An exercising apparatus for removing excess weight in the area of the abdomen of a user and for building the abdominal muscles wherein a roller exerts pressure against the abdomen and provides a massaging action as the user of the apparatus performs sitting-up exercises.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of equipment is currently being provided for use in removing excess weight, building muscles and improving the general physical condition. A very common problem encountered by persons who have neglected physical fitness is excess weight and lack of muscle tone, particularly in the abdominal area. Although specific exercises may be recommended to aid in the correction of this particular problem, there is a need for special exercising equipment which allows more effective types of exercising and thereby produces more rapid results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention claimed, an improved exercising apparatus is provided which produces a massaging action against the abdominal area as the user performs sitting-up exercises. The massaging action is supplied by means of a roller which is forced against the abdomen by counterbalanced weights mounted on a pivoted lever structure.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved exercising apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which is particularly effective in removing excess weight in the abdominal area.

A further object of this invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which is particularly effective in building the abdominal muscles.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which produces a massaging action against the abdominal area of the person using it in the performance of sitting-up exercises.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercising apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the exercising apparatus in use;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an important pivoting joint in a position of minimum angular displacement;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the same pivoting joint in a position of maximum angular displacement;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the end of the roller and supporting structure with a motor-driven cam assembly which as an optional variation of the invention produces a lateral motion of the roller in the direction of the axis of the roller; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the counterbalancing weight and supporting member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIGS. 1-6 disclose an exercising apparatus including a fixed supporting table like structure 7 having a sectional top or platform 8, the parts 8A and 8B which may be angularly positioned relative to each other and a plurality of vertical legs 9, 9' and 10, 10' interconnected by horizontal braces 11, 11'. Two L-shaped lever structures 12 and 12' are pivotally mounted by pins 14 at their knees to lower end of legs 9, 9' of structure 7. At the outer extremities of the lower segments of the L-shaped lever structures 12, 12' are mounted counter-balancing weights 13, 13'. At the upper extremities of the upper segments of the L-shaped lever structures 12, 12' are pivotally mounted cantilever supporting bars 15, 15' by means of pins 17, 17'. A roller 19 having an axle 20 extending from both ends is supported between the cantilevered supporting bars 15, 15' in one of a plurality of circular openings 21, 21' which act as bearings for the free rotation therein of axle 20. If desired, weights 20A and 20B (shown in dash lines) may be attached to each end of axle 20. As an alternate construction, axle 20 may be fixedly mounted to bars 15, 15' with roller 19 rotating on axle 20.

Cushion pads 23 and 24 are mounted on the sectional top or parts 8A and 8B of platform 8 for comfort of the user. The parts 8A and 8B of platform 8 are pivotally attached to each other by pins 25 with the free end of part 8B pivotally supported at 28, 28' by a pair of struts 26 and 27, each attached at different ends of the free end of part 8B. The other ends of the struts 26 and 27 rest on any one of a multiplicity of pins 29 or other suitable pivotal attachment means for attaching the struts to various points along the lower horizontal braces 11, 11' of the supporting structure 7. Attached to vertical legs 9, 9' of supporting structure 7 is a restraining belt 30 for the legs of the user.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 wherein an outline 32 of a person is shown in a prone resting position on the apparatus with ankles restrained by belt 30. In the performance of the sitting-up exercise, the user rises to a sitting position as shown by his partial dash line outline 33. As the user rises toward the upright position, roller 19 presses against his abdomen at 34 and is moved forward in the direction indicated by arrow 35 driving forward bars 15 and 15', thereby causing L-shaped lever structures 12 and 12' to pivot forward in the direction indicated by arrow 35 toward the position indicated by dash line outline of lever structure 12. In pivoting toward the position indicated by the dash line illustration of lever structures 12 and 12', weights 13, 13' must be raised to their dash line position shown in FIG. 2 and by their counterbalancing reaction which produce a force acting through the lever structures 12, 12', bars 15, 15' and roller 19 against the abdomen of the user. The free rotation of roller 19 about its axle 20 permits roller 19 to follow the contour of the abdomen adjusting its point of contact therewith to permit the degree of freedom required for the user to rise to the upright position. At the same time, the rolling action of roller 19 in the presence of pressure applied by weights 13, 13' produces a vigorous massaging action against the abdomen which is effective in removing weight therefrom and building muscle tone therein. The degree of pressure applied against the abdomen may be controlled by the appropriate selection of weights 13, 13'. The optional addition of weights 20A and 20B afford additional control of such pressure and, furthermore, if weights 20A and 20B are fixedly attached, they produce an additional massaging effect due to their rotational inertia.

The position of platform 8 shown in FIG. 2 is nearly horizontal and is the least demanding position for the sitting-up exercise. The user exercising on the apparatus will initially employ this position. Then, as his strength and body tone improve, he will lower the position of platform 8 by moving the struts to the next pin forward as, for example, to pin 29A. Later he will move the strut to pin 29B, etc. until the platform has assumed the most demanding position as shown in FIG. 1. In this position, the end 38 of the part 8B of platform 8 rests against surface 39 of supporting structure 7.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the pivoted joints by which bars 15, 15' are attached to L-shaped lever 12, 12', respectively. Pin 17 passes through matching circular openings in bar 15 and L-shaped lever 12. The pinned joint so formed permits rotation of bar 15 relative to lever 12 through a limited angle of rotation. Bar 15 is shown angularly displaced relative to lever 12 with rotation toward a smaller angular displacement prevented by interference between bar 15 and L-shaped lever 12 at contact point 40. Rotation toward a greater angular displacement is limited when tab 41, which is attached to bar 15, strikes point 42 on a second tab 43 which is attached to L-shaped lever 12. The free rotation of bar 15 relative to lever 12 through the limited arc just defined attends the first part of the sitting-up exercise. During this period, only the weight of roller 19 rests against the abdomen of the user. Following the point of interference between tabs 41 and 43, however, the pivoting joint of bar 15 and L-shaped lever 12 shown in FIG. 3 rocks forward toward the dash line position shown in FIG. 4 thereby raising weights 13 and 13' as shown in the dash line position of FIG. 2. The pressure against the abdomen is thereby increased as the sitting-up motion progresses beyond the point of interference between tabs 41 and 43.

FIG. 5 shows a variation of the roller assembly in which an electric motor 45 is employed to produce a lateral motion of roller 19. In this case roller 19 is made to rotate freely relative to axle 20. A cam 46 is mounted to axle 47 of motor 45. A lever 48 is attached at one end to cam 46 by pin 49 and at the other end to axle 20 of roller 19 by means of pin 50. As cam 46 is turned in a direction 51 by motor 45, lever 48 drives the roller assembly back and forth as indicated by double-ended arrow 52. The lateral motion thus provided produces an additional massaging action which is beneficial as a means for removing excess weight and building muscle tone.

If so desired axle 20 may be provided with a spiral slot 53 along its length in which fits a key (not shown) formed on the inside diameter of roller 19. When roller 19 is rotated upon movement of the L-shaped levers 12, 12', it moves laterally across the abdomen of the user without the use of motor 45. The roller may be spring biased to one end of shaft 20 if so desired so that it always moves laterally across the user in the same direction.

FIG. 6 shows the means by which weights 13 and 13' are attached respectively to L-shaped levers 12 and 12'. In FIG. 6 the extremity of the lower segment of one L-shaped lever is shown as representative of the other and is provided with two right-angle bends 54 and 55. The portion of the L-shaped lever lying beyond the last bend 55 forms an axle 56 which remains in a horizontal position as the L-shaped levers are pivoted about their axis 14, 14'. Weight 13 is provided with a bearing hole 57 which is arranged to receive the end of axle 56. As weight 13 is slipped over axle 56 it moves freely until it strikes the stops 58 and 59 which are formed on the surface of axle 56.

Once installed on axle 56, weight 13 is locked in place by a clip 60 which slips into an annular depression 61 formed near the end of axle 56.

The novel exercising apparatus herein described effectively contributes toward the enhancement of the effects of physical exercise for the reduction of excess weight and the building of muscle tone and physical strength.

It should be recognized that the legs of the L-shaped lever may be formed of telescopic portions adjustably positioned by lock nuts 62 to adjust their lengths and by apertures 63 to vary the position of roller 19 for the convenience of the user.

Although but a few embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising table for massaging the abdomen of the user comprising:

a frame having a base, a plurality of table legs supported on said base at one end and supporting a table top at their other ends,

said top supporting the body of a user when lying on his back with his legs bent over one end of the top at his knees,

means for attaching the user's legs below his knees to said one end of said frame,

L-shaped lever means comprising a pair of legs interconnected at a joint and pivotally attached to said base at one end of said frame at said joint with one leg thereof extending laterally above said top and the other leg extending along the length of said frame beneath said top,

a bar pivotally attached to said one leg of said L-shaped lever for extending longitudinally of said frame above said top for supporting a roller,

a roller means mounted on said bar for extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of said bar,

and a weight attached to said other leg of said L-shaped lever means,

said roller means being positionable over the abdomen of a user and rotating therealong toward his hips upon a sitting-up effort of the user,

means for limiting the pivotal movement of said bar relative to said lever upon predetermined rotation of said bar relative to said L-shaped lever during a sitting upon movement of the user, whereby said weight on said L-shaped lever means upon rotation of said bar applies a reactive downward force to said roller means.

2. The exercising table set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

means for causing movement of said roller means laterally of said bar upon rotation of said roller.

3. The exercising table set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said L-shaped lever means comprises a pair of L-shaped members each comprising a pair of interconnected legs, each member being pivotally mounted on a common end of said frame at opposite sides thereof at a point adjacent the interconnection of its legs,

one leg of each of said members extending above said top at said common end of said frame and the other leg of each of said members extending along the length of said frame beneath said top,

a pair of bars one pivotally attached to said one leg of each of said members for extending longitudinally of said top for each supporting an end of said roller means,

said roller means rotating between the bars upon sitting up effort of the user, and

a weight attached to each of the other legs of said members.

4. The exercising table set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

means for causing movement of said roller means laterally of said bar upon rotation of said roller means.

5. The exercising table set forth in claim 3 in further combination with:

a pair of second weights one attached to a different end of said roller means.

6. The exercising table set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said roller means comprises a shaft fixedly mounted to extend between the bars, and

a hollow roller rotatively mounted on said shaft.

7. The exercising table set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said shaft is provided with spiral keyway extending around and along its length, and

the inside periphery of said roller is provided with a key for engaging said keyway for causing said roller to move longitudinally of said shaft upon rotation of said roller.

8. The exercising table set forth in claim 7 wherein:

said means for actuating said shaft laterally of the bars comprises a motor for rotating an off center cam, and

means for rotating said shaft longitudinally thereof in relationship to the movement of said off center cam.

9. The exercising table set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said roller means comprises a shaft rotatably mounted on and between the bars,

a roller mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and

a means for activating said shaft and roller laterally of the bars.

10. The exercising table set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said roller means is detachably mounted at one of a plurality of positions along the length of the bars.

11. The exercising table set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said top is divided into two portions at a point along its length,

means for hingedly connecting each of said portions together,

one of said portions over which the user bends his legs being fixedly positioned on said table legs of said frame, and

means for supporting said other portion in one of a plurality of angular positions relative to said first portion.