Abdominal exercise and training apparatus

Title: Abdominal exercise and training apparatus

Related Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Weight Resistance, Including Stationary Support For Weight, Having Lever Carrying The Weight

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060211549, Abdominal exercise and training apparatus.

1. An apparatus for training abdominal muscles using a crunch motion comprising: a base; an upper portion pivotably suspended from said base, said upper portion including a back support, a head support, and handles adapted to be gripped by the hands of a person; a lower portion pivotably suspended from said base, said lower portion including a seat and a lumbar support; and a link bar interconnecting said upper portion to said lower portion causing said upper portion and said lower portion to pivot simultaneously and cooperatively in opposite rotational directions with respect to said base, the relative angular displacement of said upper portion and said lower portion being a fixed ratio determined by the distances between the respective pivot points and link bar attachment points thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lower portion additionally includes means to retain the legs of a person seated in said apparatus, enabling the legs to be used to assist in performing the intended crunch motion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lower portion further includes a means for receiving weights to assist a person with weak abdominal muscles in performing the intended crunch motion.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said upper portion further includes a means for receiving weights to increase the force required by a person to perform the intended crunch motion.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said leg retaining means is rigidly interconnected to said seat and said seat is pivotably positionable on said lower portion, allowing said seat and said leg retaining means to be angularly positioned with respect to said apparatus, said lower portion additionally including a means to secure said seat and said leg retaining means in a selected one of a straight-ahead position, a rightwardly angled position, or a leftwardly angled position, enabling a person to exercise both frontal and oblique abdominal muscles without leaving said apparatus.

6. An apparatus for training abdominal muscles using a crunch motion comprising: a base; an upper portion pivotably suspended from said base, said upper portion including a back support, a head support, handles adapted to be gripped by the hands of a person, and a weight receiving means for increasing the workout resistance of said apparatus; a lower portion pivotably suspended from said base, said lower portion including a seat, a lumbar support, means to retain the legs of a person seated in said apparatus, and a weight receiving means for decreasing the workout resistance of said apparatus; and a link bar interconnecting said upper portion to said lower portion causing said upper portion and said lower portion to pivot simultaneously and cooperatively in opposite rotational directions with respect to said base.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said seat and said leg retaining means are interconnected to form a seat portion that is pivotably positionable on said lower portion and said lower portion further includes a seat portion securing means, said seat portion being angularly positioned and secured by said seat portion securing means in a selected one of a straight-ahead position, a rightwardly angled position, or a leftwardly angled position with respect to said apparatus, enabling a person to exercise both frontal and oblique abdominal muscles without leaving said apparatus.

8. A method for exercising and training abdominal muscles using an apparatus having a base; an upper portion pivotably suspended from said base, said upper portion including a back support, a head support, and handles adapted to be gripped by the hands of a person; a lower portion pivotably suspended from said base, said lower portion including a seat, a lumbar support, and leg retaining means; and a link bar interconnecting said upper portion to said lower portion causing said upper portion and said lower portion to pivot simultaneously and cooperatively in opposite rotational directions with respect to said base, comprising the steps of: sitting on said seat in said apparatus; resting the lower back against said lumbar support, the shoulders against said back support, and the head against said head support; hooking the legs behind said leg retaining means; grasping said handles with the hands; simultaneously pulling downward and inward with the hands and pulling upward and inward with the legs, resulting in a crunch exercise action; and resisting the motion of said apparatus in returning to the original rest position by simultaneously applying downward and inward force to the handles via the hands and upward and inward force to the leg retaining means via the legs.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said lower portion further includes a means for receiving weights to assist a person with weak abdominal muscles in performing the intended crunch motion, said method further comprising a predecessor step of placing weights as desired on said weight receiving means.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said upper portion further includes a means for receiving weights to increase the force required by a person to perform the intended crunch motion, said method further comprising a predecessor step of placing weights as desired on said weight receiving means.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said seat and said leg retaining means are interconnected to form a seat portion that is pivotably positionable on said lower portion and said lower portion further includes a seat portion securing means, said method additionally comprising the steps of angularly positioning said seat portion and securing said seat portion using said seat portion securing means in a selected one of a straight-ahead position, a rightwardly angled position, or a leftwardly angled position with respect to said apparatus, thereby enabling a person to exercise both frontal and oblique abdominal muscles without leaving said apparatus.

12. A method for exercising and training abdominal muscles using an apparatus having a base; an upper portion pivotably suspended from said base, said upper portion including a back support, a head support, handles adapted to be gripped by the hands of a person, and an upper weight receiving means for increasing the workout resistance of said apparatus; a lower portion pivotably suspended from said base, said lower portion including a seat, a lumbar support, leg retaining means, and a lower weight receiving means for decreasing the workout resistance of said apparatus; and a link bar interconnecting said upper portion to said lower portion causing said upper portion and said lower portion to pivot simultaneously and cooperatively in opposite rotational directions with respect to said base, comprising the steps of: placing the desired weights on either or both said upper weight receiving means and said lower weight receiving means as desired; sitting on said seat in said apparatus; resting the lower back against said lumbar support, the shoulders against said back support, and the head against said head support; hooking the legs behind said leg retaining means; grasping said handles with the hands; simultaneously pulling downward and inward with the hands and pulling upward and inward with the legs, resulting in a crunch exercise action; and resisting the motion of said apparatus in returning to the original rest position by simultaneously applying downward and inward force to the handles via the hands and upward and inward force to the leg retaining means via the legs.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said seat and said leg retaining means are interconnected to form a seat portion that is pivotably positionable on said lower portion and said lower portion further includes a seat portion securing means, said method additionally comprising the steps of angularly positioning said seat portion and securing said seat portion using said seat portion securing means in one of a straight ahead position, a rightwardly angled position, or a leftwardly angled position with respect to said apparatus, enabling a person to exercise both frontal and oblique abdominal muscles without leaving said apparatus.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

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Previous Patent Application:
Leg exercise apparatus and method
Next Patent Application:
Adjustable dumbbell system
Industry Class:
Exercise devices

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