Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ABDOMINAL BENCH
Field Of The Invention
[0001] The invention relates to an improved, dual function sit-up and
abdominal
exercising bench system.
Description Of The Invention
And Of The Manner And Process Of Making And Using It
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0002] The present invention, its objectives and advantages will become more
apparent
from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings in which:
[0003] Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the abdominal bench according to
the
present invention;
[0004] Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof in a normal position, with
portions
taken away for clarity;
[0005] Fig, 3 is a front elevational view thereof in an operated condition,
with portions
taken away for clarity;
[0006] Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view if Fig. 2;
[0007] Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of Fig. 3;
[0008] Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the weight assembly;
[0009] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the foot support assembly;
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[0010] Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional vie of the foot
assembly;
[0011] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the weight locking mechanism; and
[0012] Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the weight assembly
as
mounted and locked in place.
[0013] Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the multi-pivot foot
system support
tube;
[0015] Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 in Fig. 12;
[0016] Fig. 14 is a perspective vie of another portion of the foot support
tube assembly;
[0017] Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a foot assembly disconnect
feature; and
[0018] Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 15.
BACKGROUND
[0019] Reference is hereby made to two of my previous patents relating to
abdominal
benches, U.S. Patent No. 6,544, 154 (the '154 patent), filed on May 14, 2001,
which
issued on April 8, 2003, and U.S. Patent No. 6,884,203 (the '203 patent),
filed on May
19, 2003 and issued on April 26, 2005. Both are commonly owned and are hereby
incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
[0020] Abdominal benches, or ab benches, have become well known and used
within
the exercise equipment market. My '154 patent disclosed an ab bench having a
minimum
number of pivots and a sliding weight that permitted both negative and
positive resistance
to be obtained by a bench user. My '203 patent described, in part, an ab bench
with
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multiple pivots that allowed a constant gap to be maintained between the seat
and torso
cushions during use of the bench. That was accomplished by using a plurality
of pivot
points around which the torso and its linkage members moved. It also allowed
the torso
and leg assembly to operate together when desired.
[0021] The present abdominal bench exhibits a streamlined construction and its
operating linkages have been modified making the bench equally useful yet more
desirable by being lighter in weight, having additional features in the foot
assembly, in
the sliding weight, and in the central moving member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Fig. 1 shows the improved abdominal bench as being comprised of several
sections including a torso section 100, a seat section 102, a foot assembly
104, a frame
106, a weight assembly 108 and a linkage section 110.
[0023] The frame 106 includes a pair of outer frame elements 120 and 122 that
form the
main support of the bench as well as the visible outer sides of the bench
itself. These are
preferably formed from plate stock and have a thickness of about 5'16th inches
and a
finished height of about 20 inches. As shown in Figs. 1-4 and 11 each main
frame
element 120 and 122 has a straight center section and opposing curved end
sections.
Using plate stock provides sufficient strength yet reduces weight and
simplifies both
manufacture and assembly. The head or torso end includes a horizontal base
124, which
can be welded or attached to each of the frame elements 120 and 122 by bolts
or other
convenient means, and base 124 includes a cut out portion 126 and a pair of
rubber feet
128 and 130. The opposite end of the frame elements 120 and 122 also includes
a base
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140, a pair of feet 142 and 144, and a pair of rollers 146 and 148 rotatably
mounted
respectively to frame elements 120 and 122. Each frame piece 120 and 122 also
includes
a hand gripping cut out 150 and 152, respectively, that permit a user to grab
and then pick
up the head end of the bench and roll the opposite end on rollers 146 and 148.
[0024] The torso section 100 includes a cushion 160 that is retained by a
torso support
member 162 shown in Fig, 4 as having a central U-shaped channel 164 and two
horizontally extending side pieces 166 and 168. The side pieces rest on a stop
member
165 that is mounted to frame 122 by a suitable bracket 167 which, as shown in
Fig. 2, can
extend across and be connected between frames 120 and 122.
[0025] The seat 102 also includes a cushion 170 that is held in place, for
example, by
being screwed to two retainer members 172 and 174 that are welded to or
screwed to, and
extend across, the two frame elements 120 and 122 as shown in Fig. 4.
[0026] Handle bars 180 and 182 are also attached to the torso support 162 by
being
screwed thereto using a bracket 184 and a plate 186 that is welded to the
handle bars.
[0027] The linkage assembly 110 begins with a main linkage member 200 that
extends
axially benesth and along the frame elements 120 and 122, and comprises an
elongated
foot section 202, and a head end or section 204. The head section 204 includes
an
angled, main pivot cbnnection arm 206 that extends outwardly at an obtuse
angle of
about 145 from the rear portion of the head end 204, or at an acute angle of
about 450
from the elongated foot section 202 depending upon which angle is being
measured.
This is best shown in Fig. 4. The distal or outer end of the connection arm
206 is
pivotally connected between the frame elements 120 and 122 by being mounted on
a
cross-beam or pivot tube 208, thus making the center of that cross beam or
pivot tube 208
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a pivot point, with cross beam 208 being operatively connected by bearings to
each of the
frame elements 120 and 122 so that the main linkage member 200 is pivotally
movable
relative to the frame elements 120 and 122.
[0028] The main linkage member 200 is shown in the Figures as being formed
from
two, plates, for example 202a and 202b as in Fig. 5. that can be welded
together by using
suitable welded spacers (not shown). It should be understood, however, that
only one of
these plates could be used, for example only 202a or 202b. This would make the
bench
lighter in weight, yet provide suitable strength to properly allow full
operation and use of
the bench.
[0029] The main linkage member 200 is pivotally connected at two points to the
torso
support member 162, which collectively comprise a linkage assembly that
operatively
interconnects the upper torso assembly and the frame. The first of these two
pivotal
points is comprised of a pair of links 210 and 212 that extend between the
upper section
204 and the channel 164 and pivotal connections 211 and 213. These links 210
and 212
can be separate links or they can be interconnected by a cross bar and formed
as an H-
shaped link. Suitable bearings are used at each of the pivot connections.
100301 The second pivotal connection between the torso support member 162 and
the
main linkage member 200 is comprised by a pair of boomerang shaped links 214
and
216. These boomerang shaped links 214 and 216 each have three pivot type
connection
points, one at each end and a third at the center thereof. The upper ends of
links 214 and
216 are pivotally connected at a point 215 on the rear end of the torso
support member
162. A center point 217 of links 214 and 216 is pivotally connected to the
main linkage
member 200, at a point near the base of the connection arm 206, that point
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where the connection arm 206 joins the main linkage member 200. The lower ends
of
each of links 214 and 216 are connected to a cross-bar or pivot tube 218 that
is welded, or
otherwise operatively mounted between the lower ends of the links 214 and 216
and by
bearings pivotally connected at a pivot point 219 to the lower ends of a
separate and
second pair of boomerang links 220 and 222. The interior angle between the
arms of
links 214 and 216 is about 60 .
100311 This second pair of boomerang links 220 and 222 are turned backwards
relative
to boomerang links 214 and 216, and they also have three pivotal connection
points, one
being at their lower ends at the connection point 219 to the boomerang shaped
links 214
and 216. The second connection point for links 220 and 222 is at their center
221 where
they are pivotally connected to the head or front end of a hitch member 230
that includes
a pivot tube or cross-beam 231 shown in Fig. 4. It should be noted that this
head end of
hitch member 230 is connected to the central pivot point 221 and that it is
not connected
to the foot section of the main linkage 200 or to the frame. The third pivotal
connection
point for links 220 and 222 is at their upper ends where they are connected to
a cross-
beam or pivot tube 224 that is operatively mounted, by suitable bearings,
between the
frame elements 120 and 122 just to the rear, which is toward the foot end of
the bench, of
cross beam 208. This separate set of links 220 and 222 provides a separate
pivotal
connection between the linkage assembly connecting the torso assembly 100 to
the frame
members 120 and 122. The torso assembly 100 thus pivots relative to the frame
elements
120 and 122 about both cross beams or pivot points 208 and 224, as is shown in
Fig. 3.
The interior angle between the boomerang arms of links 220 and 222 is about 45
.
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[0032] The opposite end of hitch member 230 is pivotally connected to an upper
part of
a pair of mounting wings 240 and 242 by a cross beam 244. The mounting wings
240
and 242 are provided at, and preferably facing upwardly from, an interior end
of the main
L-shaped foot assembly beam 250 of the foot assembly 104 which is, in turn,
pivotally
connected by cross beam 252, and by suitable bearings described below, between
frame
elements 120 and 122. Thus, hitch member 230 interconnects and links the torso
section
100 to the foot assembly 104 so that they each interact with the other as the
bench is used
in crunch exercises. This L-shaped foot assembly beam 250 will rest in its
unmoved
position on a stop 251 that is connected to a bracket 253 that is welded or
otherwise
attached between frames 120 and 122.
[0033] As representative of each of the pivot connections used on the present
invention,
refrence is made to Figs. 4, 5 and 14. The end of each cross beam, for example
252,
includes either a bronze bushing or a bearing member 254 that can, for
example, include
an outer flange 255, and an internal cylindrical bearing 256 that will fit
over a pin or rod
type connection, or onto or into a complementary member or connection on the
frame
member 120 and 122, or another support member. The bearings can be, for
example, a
DryLin bearing, such as a bearing type TJUM-03 manufactured by IGUS, an R-
Linear
plain bearing or a split linear bearing. All that is required is that each of
the pivot
connections be made in a manner that permits the two engaged members to pivot
relative
to the frame or to a structure on which the pivoting member is attached.
[0034] The main linkage member 200 also includes mounting brackets 260 and 262
at
opposite ends that support opposite ends of a weight support tube 270 on which
the
weight assembly 108 is support and on which it can slide.
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[0035] With reference to Figs. 6, 9 and 10, the sliding weight according to
his present
invention will be further understood. The concept of using a sliding weight
was first
disclosed in my '154 patent where that weight had its movement and location
controlled
by a pin arrangement. The weight could be moved relative to a central torso
pivot point,
where a weight effect was neutral, so that as the weight was moved on one side
or the
other of that pivot point either positive resistance or negative resistance
weight effects
could be established. An earlier version of this sliding weight was also used
in my
second ab bench patent, the '203 patent where movement and positioning of the
weight
was controlled by a knob and a pressure plate and in my '154 patent where a
push type
locking pin was used. Here the weight assembly 108 is further modified by
having a
plurality of weights, and by an improved and modified locking mechanism.
[0036] With reference to Figs. 2 and 6 the weight assembly 108 is comprised of
a main
weight 300, which can vary from about 30 pounds to about 45 pounds. This main
weight
300 is provided with a through bore 301 through which the support tube 270
passes. In
addition, a slide bearing 303 is mounted at each end of the bore 301, and over
tube 270,
so that weight 300 can easily slide along tube 270. The lower portion of
weight 300 can
be provided with threaded holes to receive therein bolts 302 and 304 that can
be used to
mount additional weights, as are shown, for example, at 306 and 308, by
passing through
apertures 307 and 309, respectively. These extra or add-on weights 306 and 308
can vary
in weight from about 10 to 15 pounds each so that, for example, if the main
weight was
35 pounds and two 15 pound add-on weights were used the total weight might be
65
pounds. It might be noted that the add-on weights can have beveled outer
sides, indicated
at 310 and 312 in Fig. 6, so that as the bench is used, and as the torso
section 100 moves
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from a horizontal position as in Fig. 2 to a crunch position and the main
linkage member
200 pivots, as in Fig. 3, the weight will not hit the floor as the weight also
move along an
arc beneath the bench. This assumes that the weight assembly 108 is positioned
at its
fully negative resistance position at the foot end of the weight support tube
270, adjacent
mounting bracket 262. In this regard, the neutral point is located between
pivot points
208 and 224. Thus, as the weight assembly is moved toward mounting bracket 262
the
weight will provide increasing levels of negative resistance. Conversely, as
the weight
assembly 108 is moved from the neutral point toward mounting bracket 260
increasing
levels of positive resistance will be provided, with the full positive
resistance being
achieved with weight 300 adjacent mounting bracket 260.
[0037] In addition, the add-on weights 306 and 308 have flat upper surfaces,
314 and
316, respectively, to permit a close fitting relationship to one another and
to the bottom of
the main weight 300.
[0038] Fig. 9 shows a new locking mechanism for the weight assembly 108. This
locking mechanism includes a knob 320, a first barrel 322, a second barrel 324
having a
threaded internal bore 326, a threaded rod 328 and a compression type coil
spring 330
that is mounted so as to be effective to operate between the two barrels 322
and 324 in a
way that will tend to push them apart. Coil spring is preferably about 1,25
inches long,
has an outer diameter of about 7116th inches and an inner diameter of about
318th inches
with a compression of about 17 psi. As shown in Fig 10, there is a circular
recess 332
formed in the facing ends of barrels 322 and 324 in which the spring 330 can
be received,
and there is a transversely extending bore 334 within weight 300 in which the
locking
mechanism can be received. The facing ends of the two barrels 322 and 324 also
include
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a semi-circular cut out area 336 that will mirror, and fit around, the outer
circumference
of the weight support tube 270. Fig. 10 also shows that the main weight 300
includes a
hole 338 that extends down the axial length of weight 300 and above the
transversely
extending bore 326. The support tube 270 fits within bore 336 in a sliding
manner. Fig.
shows the second barrel 324 filly closed against barrel 322. In use, the
second barrel
324 would be located further away from barrel 322 so that the semi-circular
cut out in
barrel 324 was aligned with the bore 326. Once tube 270 was within bore 326,
knob 320
will be turned which turns the treaded rod 328 in barrel 324. This will pull
barrel 324
toward the knob 320 until the semi-circular cut out fits tightly against the
exterior of tube
270 thereby locking the weight assembly in a selected position on the tube
270.
[0039] The present ab bench also includes a novel foot assembly 104 that is
shown in
detail in Figs. 7 and 8. It should be noted that this foot assembly can be
used on this ab
bench as well as on a variety of other types of exercise equipment where a
foot holder or
foot support would be useful.
[0040] The foot assembly 104 is located at an outer end 350 of the foot beam
250, and
the foot assembly 104 can be positioned in a number of positions as is shown
by the
dotted arrow 352 in Fig 1. In my '203 patent there was a movable foot section
that was
able to be raised and lowered, but the rotational movement was limited to six
inches of
movement between three positions, with that limited movement being slightly
off line
from the vertical and vertically centered on the leg end of the foot brace.
Here the foot
assembly is provided with a range of movement through about an arc ranging
from about
120 to about 200 , with the preferred arc of movement being about 180 degrees
as shown
in Fig. 1 by the dotted line arrow. Thus, the foot assembly can face fully
away from a
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bench user, as is shown in full line in Fig. 1, it can directly face the bench
user, as is
shown by the dotted line representation in Fig. 1. Similarly, the foot
assembly 104 can be
positioned at a number of intermediate positions there between. The foot
assembly 104
includes four cylindrical foot cushions, 360, 362, 364 and 366, that are
slidably mounted
over and fixed to the opposing ends of cross beams 370 and 372 that extend
outwardly
through, and are supported by, a pair of mounting plates 374 and 376. In
particular, plates
374 and 376 are shaped to include a lower portion 377 and a pair of obliquely
extending
mounting arms 378 and 380. Thus, the cross beams 370 and 372 and the foot
cushions
360-366 that are supported thereby are supported by two pairs of outwardly
extending
arms 378 and 380. The lower portion 377 of each plate 374 and 376 is rotatably
mounted
at the outer end 350 of the foot beam 250 by a bolt and a pivot connection
382. A
locking-pin assembly 384 is mounted between plates 374 and 376 via a welded
holder
386, and cooperates with a circular ring 387 that is welded or otherwise fixed
to the outer
end 350. Ring 387 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced
apart holes
388 in which the locking pin 390 can be received.
[00411 This foot assembly 104 provides a greater range of motion for the foot
assembly
than was previously possible, and allows the bench to better accommodate a
wider range
of user sizes so that users who are short, of an average size as well as
taller users can all
comfortably perform crunch type exercises on the bench. For example, with the
foot
assembly 104 positioned as shown in dotted line in Fig.1, the foot assembly
will be set at
a position closest to the user lying on the bench. This setting will provide
foot support
and the best range of motion for a user whose height ranges from about 4.5
feet to about
5.5 feet. With the buttocks of a user resting on the seat 170, and the upper
torso against
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the cushion 160, placing one's feet on the foot assembly 104 and within
cushions 360-
366, permits that shorter user to do crunches without undue strain on the
lower back, on
the cervical spine, the quadriceps or the ham string muscles. This multi-pivot
foot system
will help isolate the core abdominal muscle groups with acceptable strain on
the other
portions of the body.
[0042] While there are settings between full forward and vertical, when the
foot
assembly is positioned in a vertical facing position, half way through the arc
of
movement, the foot assembly 104 will be in a location suitable for a user who
is about 5.5
feet tall to about 6 feet. With the foot assembly in the full back or the full
line position
shown in Fig. 1, the foot assembly will accommodate users taller than 6 feet.
Here again,
there are additional intermediate positions that can be set between the
vertical and full
rearward facing locations, and these intermediate settings will allow
individual users to
find the setting that most accommodates their individual size and height.
[0043] An alternative embodiment of the present invention relating to a
modified
support member for the foot assembly 104 is comprised of a modified, two piece
foot
beam 400 as shown in Figs. 11-14. This foot beam 400 is comprised of an outer
section
402 and an inner section 404 that will preferably be bolted together. The
outer section
402 is constructed from two side panels 406 and 408 that are welded to a front
panel 410
and a rear panel 412, as well as a bottom plate 414 and a brace or support
plate 416. A
multi-apertured positioning ring 418 is welded between side panels 406 and 408
at the
top thereof. Also as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 a plurality of bolt holes 420
are provided
in both the bottom portion of side panels 406 and 408 and along the center of
bottom
plate 414.
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[0044] The inner section 404 is comprised of a square tubular section 430 with
a pivot
tube 432, welded to one end of the tubular section 430, and a pair of joint
plates 434 and
436 each of which is welded to the tubular section 430 and are provided with
an aperture
438 and 440, respectively, that will allow an end of hitch plate 230 to be
pivotally
connected to the foot beam 400. As with the beam 250, the hitch member 230
interconnects the torso section 100 to the foot assembly 104 so that they
operate in unison
as the bench is used. In addition, a plurality of bolt holes 442 are provided
adjacent the
end of tubular section 430 opposite from pivot tube 432 so that holes 442 will
align with
holes 420 thereby permitting the inner section 404 to be bolted to the outer
section 402.
[0045] To form the ab bench into a sit-up system it is possible and important
to be able
to disengage the foot assembly from the torso section. Thus, rather than
having both the
torso and foot assembly move together, or cooperatively, the torso section
could move
independently from the foot assembly.
10046] Figs. 15 and 16 show a modified foot assembly 500 connection to the
torso
assembly. This modified foot assembly 500 includes the same cushioned end of
the foot
assembly 104 shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8, and could include either the
foot beam 250
of a first embodiment of the foot assembly, or the two piece mechanism
comprised of the
outer and inner sections, 402 and 404, respectively, of the second embodiment
of the foot
support. For convenience, the second embodiment is being referenced
hereinafter to
describe the modification of the connection to the frame and torso section
100.
[0047] The major modification is to replace the hitch member 230, which links
the foot
assembly 104 to the torso assembly, with a two piece structure. One of those
pieces is a
machined or formed member 502 having one end 501 pivotally connected between
joint
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plates 4343 and 436 by a pin 505. The other end of member 502 includes a slot
503
defined between end pieces 507. The other piece of the two piece structure is
a bar 504
pivotally connected to the center point 221 of boomerang links 220 and 222 by
a cross-
beam (not shown) that replaces beam 231. Bar 504 also includes an aperture
510. The
end pieces 507 also include an aperture 514, shown in Fig. 15. A locking pin
512 is also
provided for interconnecting member 502 and bar 504 by passing through
apertures 510
and 514. When that arrangement exists, the foot assembly 500 will be connected
to the
torso section 100.
10048] However, when locking pin 512 is removed from apertures 510 and 514,
member 502 and bar 504 will be disconnected permitting bar 504 to drop
downwardly
into the position shown in Fig. 15 and permits member 502 to be raised
upwardly so that
slot 503 fits around a depending support member 506 that is welded to the
retainer strap
174 and which includes aperture 508. Locking pin 512 can then be inserted into
aperture
514 and through aperture 508 thereby locking member 502 to the bottom of
retainer 174.
This fully disengages the foot assembly 500 from the torso section 100 and
permits a user
to use only the torso section 100 together with the desired weight 108.
[0049] While the linkage assembly is shown as including a pair of links 210
and 211, a
pair of boomerang links 214 and 216, and a separate set of boomerang links 220
and 222,
it should be understood that each of these pairs of links could be comprised
of only one
link member, for example links 210, 214 and 220, rather than a pair of each of
these link
members. Where the main linkage member 202a is comprised of a single plate,
such as
202a, then these single links would be used with the single plate 202a.
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[0050] It is preferred to construct the bench from metal plate stock, for
example 5/16ths
for steel and 5/8ths for resins and for aluminum castings the thickness would
be about 1.2
inch, and metal components, including castings, aluminum castings, cast iron.
However,
there are many reinforced resins and plastic materials that could be used for
specific parts
or for that matter the entire bench where suitable weight and strength are
provided.
Where resin or plastic parts are to be used, suitable molds for their
manufacture would
have to be built and this is within the skill of one of ordinary skill in
plastic and resin
manufacturing procedures. In addition, it is preferred that the cross beams
are about one
inch tubes, and the pivot bearings are preferably as described above, so that
each cross
beam is a pivot tube with bearings at each end.
100511 While the invention has been described in connection with what is
presently
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be
understood that
the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the
contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included
within the
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
