Method and apparatus for exercising abdominal muscles

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The present invention relates to health and fitness devices, and in particular to a device for improving posture and conditioning abdominal and associated torso muscles.

Persistent problems in maintaining health and fitness have become an increasingly prevalent problem in today\'s society. A significant contributing factor has been the general trend for increased numbers of people to pursue urban and suburban environments largely consisting of non-physical types of skilled labor, i.e., office careers, which substantially reduce the amount of physical manual labor or activity experienced during a typical day. An additional contributing factor includes the steady decline in diet quality as less healthy, processed food products are more readily available and convenient for a busy schedule. As a result, the overall body condition and fitness of people has, for the most part, declined.

Poor body condition exhibited as excess weight and a resulting reduction of muscle conditioning and strength is a substantial health concern. Moreover, such poor muscle condition and excess weight may further lead to general posture problems. It has long been known that persons with exceedingly poor posture may be unduly subjecting their internal organs to potentially harmful stress which may foster other maladies or conditions that could otherwise have been avoided had proper posture been maintained.

Despite the extremely undesirable and wide-ranging effects of poor abdominal/torso muscle conditioning and excess weight carried in the abdominal area, many people simply avoid moderate exercise, healthy diet and a conscious focus upon maintaining good posture as they go about their day. However, a substantial benefit in posture, weight control and abdominal and torso muscle conditioning may be accomplished by exercising or maintaining good posture, i.e., regularly making an effort to maintain a tightened muscle condition of the abdominal muscles. Unfortunately, it is often difficult for people to remember to exercise good posture and to maintain tightened abdominal muscles as they go about a busy day. Accordingly, the need arises to provide a reminder to exercise good posture and maintain tightened abdominal muscles for extended periods of time.

Although devices have been proposed to meet the need for such a reminder or mechanism, thus far such prior art devices have been subject to practical limitations such as the undesirability and impracticality with users reluctant or refusing to use them. In addition, such devices are typically unduly complex and burdensome for the user, or are unable to provide a simple and effective mechanism which will allow the user to be comfortable wearing the device.

In view of the above limitations, it would be desirable to provide a device that is simple to operate, and is further easily and comfortably worn to provide improved posture and muscle training.

The present invention advantageously provides an improved posture and muscle training device that is simple to operate, and is further easily and comfortably worn. In particular, the present invention provides a device for improving posture having a housing, a power supply disposed within the housing, a first communication element coupled to the housing, an actuation mechanism coupled to the housing, where the actuation mechanism selectively electrically couples the first communication element to the power supply, and a clip coupled to the housing and engageable with a belt, where the clip includes a substantially thin wire, and where engagement of the clip with the belt positions a substantial portion of the housing behind the belt and out of view. The actuation mechanism may include a switch positioned on the housing facing the clip. The clip may extend from a top surface of the housing, have a length larger than a length of the housing. In addition, the housing may have a length less than approximately one and a half inches.

The device may also include a second communication element coupled to the housing such that the actuation mechanism is able to selectively electrically couple the first communication element to the power supply. The first and second communication elements may include a light source and/or an audio source. A mode selection element may also be included on the device, where the mode selection element is able to selectively electrically couple at least one of the first and second communication elements with the actuation mechanism. The device may also include a depressible element coupled to the housing, where the depressible element is able to trigger the actuation mechanism.

The present invention also provides a device for improving posture, comprising a housing, a power supply disposed within the housing, a first communication element coupled to the housing, a second communication element coupled to the housing, a switch coupled to the housing, wherein the switch selectively electrically couples at least one of the first and second communication elements to the power supply, and a clip coupled to the housing and engageable with a belt, where the clip includes a substantially thin wire, and where engagement of the clip with the belt positions a substantial portion of the housing behind the belt and out of view. The switch may be positioned on the housing facing the clip, the first communication element may be a light source, and the second communication element may include an audio source.

A device of the present invention may also include a housing having a length less than approximately one and a half inches, a power supply disposed within the housing, a light source coupled to the housing, an audio source coupled to the housing, a switch coupled to the housing, wherein the switch selectively electrically couples at least one of the light source and audio source to the power supply, a depressible element coupled to the housing adjacent to the switch, wherein the depressible element is able to trigger the switch, and a clip coupled to the housing and engageable with a belt, where the clip includes a substantially thin wire, and where engagement of the clip with the belt positions a substantial portion of the housing behind the belt and out of view. A mode selection element may also be coupled to the housing, where the mode selection element is able to selectively electrically couple at least one of the light source and audio source to the actuation mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a posture and muscle training device in accordance with the principles of the invention;

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