U.S. patent number 3,817,243 [Application Number 05/351,568] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-18 for exercising apparatus.
Invention is credited to Walter E. Perrine.
United States Patent |
3,817,243 |
Perrine |
June 18, 1974 |
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.
Inventors: |
Perrine; Walter E. (Phoenix,
AZ) |
Family
ID: |
23381435 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/351,568 |
Filed: |
April 16, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
601/24; 482/145;
601/117; 601/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
23/0211 (20130101); A63B 21/0615 (20130101); A61H
15/00 (20130101); A63B 21/4047 (20151001); A61H
2201/1261 (20130101); A63B 2208/0233 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
15/00 (20060101); A61h 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/25R,57
;272/58,81,57J |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Trapp; Lawrence W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lindsley; Warren F. B.
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.
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.
* * * * *