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Oblique abdominal trainer

Oblique abdominal trainer description/claims

The present invention relates to exercise equipment in general and in particular to an apparatus for exercising the oblique abdominal muscles of a user.

Abdominal muscles are important muscles of a human body for both performing specific motions such as bending or twisting, for example, as well as for stabilizing the torso of a person during other activities. It is an important aspect of increasing the fitness level of a person to exercise the abdominal muscles so that they may properly stabilize the torso during activity as well as provide the necessary range of mobility required.

Abdominal muscles are commonly divided into three main muscles groups, the rectus abdominis, the transversus abdominis and the obliques. The obliques include both the internal oblique and the external oblique muscles (hereinafter collectively called the “obliques”) and serve to rotate and side-bend the torso of the person as well as to stabilize and reduce the volume of the person during exhaling a breath. The transversus abdominis provide stability to the torso and help to compress the ribs during exhaling.

Exercises for the obliques and the transversus abdominis commonly include twisting, side crunches, and side bends. Twisting motions typically do not incorporate any type of resistance to the twisting motion and are therefore of limited effectiveness. In addition, side crunches and side bends are known to also rely on and utilize the hip flexors of the person when performing this exercise.

Using the hip flexors during abdominal muscle exercises is not desirable in certain circumstances for several reasons. The use of the hip flexors during an exercise reduces the isolation of the abdominal muscles and therefore reduces the effectiveness of the abdominal muscle training. In addition, when the exercise is for the purpose of rehabilitating a person, the use of the hip flexors to complete the exercise may exacerbate an existing injury.

What is desirable is a method and apparatus for exercising the oblique and transversus abdominis muscles of a user as well as the transversus abdominis that permits an adjustable resistance. The desired method and apparatus will also not substantially utilize the hip flexors of the user.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for exercising the oblique and transversus abdominis muscles of a user without substantially exercising the hip flexors and includes a variable resistance.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles of a user. The apparatus comprises a body and guide means for guiding the body along a path. The guide means has first and second ends and a middle portion. The apparatus further comprises biasing means for biasing the body towards the middle portion of the guide means and transmitting means for transmitting alternating torso rotational movements of a user to the body so as to urge the body in reciprocating opposite directions along the path. The apparatus may further comprise resistance means for resisting movement of the body along the guide means.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for exercising the oblique abdominal muscles of a user. The apparatus comprises an elongate track having first and second ends and a middle portion wherein the elongate track is positionable transverse to a user. The apparatus further includes a carriage movable along the track, wherein that carriage is biased toward the middle portion of the track, and an arm extending substantially perpendicular from the carriage. The arm has a free distal end such that application by user of an alternating torque to the free distal end of the arm urges the carriage in a corresponding reciprocating motion on the track.

The elongate track may have a curvature. The middle portion may be lower than the ends of the track. The track may be arcuate. The curvature of the track may have a constant radius. The track may have an adjustable height. The track may comprise a pair of parallel spaced apart rails. The rails further may include parallel spaced apart support portions for supporting the carriage.

The arm may extend from the carriage through a passage between the pair of rails. The carriage may further include sliders slidably engaging the track. The arm may be pivotally connected to the carriage. The arm may further include a handle at the distal end. The handle may be rotatably secured to the arm. The handle may be pivotally and substantially collinearly secured to the arm.

The carriage may further include wheels rollably engaging the track. The carriage may include support wheels and clamping wheels with the support portion retained therebetween. At least one of the support wheels or the clamping wheels may comprise a pliable material. The clamping wheels may comprise a pliable material. The pliable material may comprise polyurethane.

The apparatus may further include a resistor for resisting the movement of the carriage along the path. The resistor may comprise a friction inducing means between the track and the carriage. The resistor may comprise retaining at least a portion of the track between at least two wheels, at least one of the at least two wheels having a rolling resistance on the track. The at least one of the at least two wheels may be adjustably engaged upon the track. This variable resistance may thus be used progressively so as to allow increased resistance corresponding to a commensurate increase in strength and fitness of a user as a result of use.

The apparatus may further comprise a biasing element for biasing the carriage towards the middle portion of the track. The biasing element may be selected from the group consisting of springs, elastomeric bands or pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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