Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IMPROVED ABDOMINAL EXERCISER WITH
ROTATABLE SEAT AND TANDEM PULLEY FEATURES
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field
of exercise devices,
and in particular, to a new and useful abdominal exerciser with a seat and a
back supporting structure.
[0002] A wide variety of exercise devices and techniques are
known for
exercising the muscles of the stomach and back. Of these, the most common is
the sit-up or crunch which, however is also known to place adverse pressure on
the back and neck muscles.
[0003] U.S. Patents 7,381,171 and 0581,471 disclose an
abdominal exerciser
co-invented by the inventors of the subject application. While effective for
exercising the muscles of the stomach and back, the subject application
discloses improvements that have been discovered as a result of use and
understanding of the dynamics of the inventors' previous device.
[0004] A need thus still remains for further improvements in
abdominal exercise
devices which enhance the exercising of the stomach and back muscles while
avoiding adverse pressure on the back and neck muscles.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An
object of the invention is to provide an abdominal exerciser
that has a base frame, a back frame pivotally mounted near a rear end of the
base frame for movement between upright and recumbent positions, at least
one back cushion connected to the back frame for supporting a user's back, a
seat frame mounted for rotation on the base frame and a seat cushion fixed to
the seat frame on which a user sits. A low friction journal bushing with a
journal
post rotatably mounted therein, is operatively connected between the base and
seat frames for supporting the weight of the user. The bushing and post are
about 30% to about 42% of the distance from a rear end of the seat cushion to
the front end of the seat cushion so that the user's coccyx is substantially
vertically aligned with the bushing and post when the user sits on the seat
cushion and his or her back is resting against the back cushion. Arms at each
side of the base frame have a pair of extensions connected to either the base
or seat frame. Each arm has a U-shaped handhold lying in a plane extending
at an acute angle of about 30 to about 80 degrees to the horizontal plane. A
pair of pulleys is mounted for rotation near a rear end of the base frame and
engages springs with resilient sleeves thereover, the springs being connected
between the base and back frames for biasing the back frame toward the
upright position.
[0006] A
further object of the invention is to provide an abdominal exercise
device that comprises: a base frame for lying in a horizontal plane on the
floor,
the base frame having a pair of side members and a cross member connected
between the side members of the base frame; a back frame having a pair of
side members pivotally mounted near respective rear ends of the respective
side members of the base frame for movement between a forward upright
position and a rearward recumbent position; a plurality of back cushions
connected between and spaced along the side members of the back frame; an
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H-shaped seat frame having front and rear members and a cross member
connected between the front and rear members; a seat cushion fixed to the
seat frame and resting on the front, rear and cross members of the seat frame,
the seat cushion having a front end and a rear end; a low friction journal
bushing having a vertically extending bore and being connected to the cross
member of one of the base and seat frames; a journal post connected to the
cross member of the other of the base and seat frames and received for
rotation in the low friction journal bushing so that the seat cushion may
rotate
with respect to the base frame, a support area of the cross member around the
journal post and to which the journal post is connected, being in weight-
bearing
contact with the low friction journal bushing for supporting the weight of a
user
sitting on the seat cushion, the location of the low friction journal bushing
and
the journal post received therein, being from about 30% to about 42% of the
distance from the rear end of the seat cushion to the front end of the seat
cushion so that when a user is sitting on the seat cushion with the users back
against the back cushions, the coccyx of the user is substantially vertically
aligned with the low friction journal bushing and journal post received
therein;
an arm at each side of the base frame, each arm having a pair of extensions
connected to one of the base frame and the seat frame, each arm including a
U-shaped handhold lying in a plane that extends at an acute angle of about 30
degrees to about 80 degrees to the horizontal plane, with the handholds of the
arms on opposite sides of the base frame extending outwardly from each other
for increasing available room for a user sitting on the seat cushion, and
access
to the handholds by the user; a pulley mounted for rotation at each side of
the
base frame near a rear end of the base frame; a tension spring connected
between the base frame and the back frame side members for biasing the back
frame toward the forward upright position; and a resilient sleeve covering
each
spring, each resilient sleeve being engaged with one of the pulleys.
[0007] The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are
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pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of
this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments
of the invention are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the drawings:
[0009] Fig. 1 is a side, front, top perspective view of an abdominal
exercise
device embodying the present invention, in an upright forward and ready
position awaiting use by a user for exercising the user's abdominal and back
muscles;
[0010] Fig. 2 is a view of the device similar to Fig. 1 but with the back
frame and
cushions moved from an upright forward position toward a rearward recumbent
position for exercising the back muscles of a user (not shown) sitting on the
device;
[0011] Fig. 3 is a view of the device similar to Fig. 2 with the back
frame and
cushions moved toward the recumbent position and with a seat frame and
cushion of the device rotated to an extreme left position for further
exercising
the side muscles of the users abdomen;
[0012] Fig. 4 is a view of the device similar to Fig. 3 but with the seat
frame and
cushion rotated to an extreme right position for further exercising the side
muscles of the users abdomen;
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[0013] Fig. 5 is a front elevational and slightly perspective view of the
device for
illustrating the non-perpendicular, angled extension of U-shaded handholds of
arms of the device, for improved room on the seat cushion and improved
access to the handholds;
[0014] Fig. 6 is a side elevational and slightly perspective view of the
device
showing a user sitting on the seat cushion to illustrate the location of a low
friction, weight-bearing journal of the device and its vertical alignment with
the
base of the user's spine;
[0015] Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the device that better illustrates the
position
of the journal with respect to front and rear ends of the seat cushion;
[0016] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the abdominal exercise
device
of the invention;
[0017] Fig. 9 is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the
device
with the arms fixed to the seat frame rather than to the base frame;
[0018] Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevational view of a locking pin for
holding
the seat frame in a non-rotatable position of the base frame;
[0019] Fig. 11 is an enlarged, exploded, sectional view of the journal
area of the
device; and
[0020] Fig. 12 is a partial, rear, perspective view of a further
embodiment of the
invention with tandem pulleys and resilient sleeve covered springs for each
side
of the base and back frames plus a safety band for covering the pulleys and
springs.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are
used
to refer to the same or similar elements, Figs. 1 and 8 illustrate an
abdominal
exercise device 10 that comprises a base frame 12 for lying in a horizontal
plane on the floor, the base frame having a pair of side members 12a and 12b
and a cross member 12c connected, e.g. by welding, between the side
members of the base frame. Members 12a, 12b and 12c and preferably square
of rectangular cross-sectioned metal tubes. A back frame 14 having a pair of
side members 14a and 14b is pivotally mounted on a pair of ears 13 at the top
of, and near respective rear ends of the side members 12a and 12b of the base
frame for movement between a forward upright position shown in Fig. 1, and a
rearward recumbent position shown in Fig. 2. A bolt 15 extends through aligned
holes in the pair of ears 13 on each side of base frame 12, to hold back frame
side members 14a, 14b to the base frame, and to form the axle for one or two
pulleys 60 mounted for rotation to each side of the base frame 12. A plurality
of back cushions 20, each in the form of a rotatable foam rubber roller, are
connected between and spaced along the side members 14a and 14b of the
back frame 14. The lowest roller cushion 20 is mounted for rotation on the
same axis on which the opposite bolts 15 extend.
[0022] An H-shaped seat frame 16 having front and rear members 16a and
16b,
has a cross member 16c that is connected, e.g. by welding, between the front
and rear members. A padded seat cushion 30 is fixed to the seat frame 16 and
resting on the front, rear and cross members of the seat frame. The seat
cushion has a front end 30a and a rear end 30b.
[0023] A low friction journal bushing 40, shown also in Fig. 11, is made
for
example from low friction nylon, has a vertically extending bore 40a and is
fixed
to the cross member 12c, e.g. by extending through a bore in the cross member
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and by having a small lower flange ring 40a and a large upper flange ring 40b.
The upper flange ring 40b has a broad flat upper annular bearing surface. A
journal post 42 is connected, e.g. by welding, to the cross member 16c of the
seat frame 16 and is received for rotation in the low friction journal bushing
bore
40a so that the seat cushion 30 may rotate with respect to the base frame 12.
[0024] A support area of the seat frame cross member 16c that is
immediately
around the journal post 42, is in weight-bearing contact with the upper
surface
of the upper flange 14b of low friction journal bushing 40, for supporting all
of
the weight of a user 100 sitting on the seat cushion as shown in Fig. 6. As
shown in Fig. 7, The location of the low friction journal bushing 40 and the
journal post 42 received therein, is a distance C from the rear end 30b of the
seat cushion 30, that is from about 30% to about 42% (preferable about 33 to
39%) of the total distance B from the rear end 30b of the seat cushion to the
front end 30a of the seat cushion 30. Because of this important placement of
the rotation journal for the seat frame 16 and its cushion 30, when a user 100
is sitting on the seat cushion 30 with the user's back against the back
cushions
20, the user's coccyx at the lower end of his or her spine 102, is
substantially
vertically aligned with the low friction journal bushing 40 and journal post
42
received therein, as shown by the arrow X in Fig. 6. In this way virtually all
the
user's weight is centered on the upper surface of the bushing flange 40b so
that
no other weight bearing mechanism is needed for allowing free and easy
rotation of the seat cushion 30 on the base frame 12. In the embodiment
shown, for example, the dimension of distant C is about 4 inches for a total
front
to back dimension B of about 11 inches for seat cushion 30.
[0025] The same weight-bearing function would be achieved in the alternate
embodiment of the invention where the bushing 40 is mounted to the cross
member 16c of the seat frame 16 and the post 42 is mounted to the cross
member 12c of the base frame 12.
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[0026] An arm 50 is also provided at each side of the base frame 12, each
arm
having a pair of extensions 50a and 50b that are detachably connected to side
tubes 12d and 12e extending from the side members 12a and 12b of base
frame 12. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the side tubes 12e are circular
cross
sectioned metal tubes welded to the outside surfaces of side member 12a and
12b, while side tubes 12d are actually the sideways opposite extensions of a
front member, circular cross sectioned metal tube of base frame 12, welded to
and across the front ends of the side members 12a and 12b.
[0027] Each arm 50 includes a U-shaped handhold 50c best shown in Fig. 5,
to
lie in a plane that extends at an acute angle A of about 30 degrees to about
80
degrees to the horizontal plane with the handholds 50c of the arms 50 on
opposite sides of the base frame extending outwardly from each other for
increasing available room for a user sitting on the seat cushion 30, and
provided better access to the handholds by the user's hands. The even more
preferred range of angle A is about 50 to 70 degrees. Detachable connection
of the arms 50 to the base frame 12 is achieved by having the round cross
sectioned tubes making arm extensions 50a and 50b, smaller in diameter than
the round cross sectioned tubes making base frame extensions 12d and 12e,
so that the arm tubes fit inside the base frame tubes. Locking of the arms 50
in position on opposite sides of base frame 12 is achieved by a pair of
outwardly spring-loaded hemispheres 50d near the inside ends of front
extensions 50a, that snap into opposite holes 12h near the end of the base
frame extensions 12d. No separated locking is needed for the rear extensions
50b.
[0028] In this embodiment the arms 50 are fixed to the base frame 12 and
the
user can hold the arms at the handholds 50c to help rotate the user's waist
and
thus rotate the seat cushion 30 on the base frame while cycling the back frame
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14 between the upright and recumbent positions to target the side muscles of
the user's abdomen. In another embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 9,
arm extensions 50a and 50b are detachably connected to the opposite tubular
ends of the front and rear members 16a, 16b of the seat frame 16, so that the
arms 50 rotate with the seat cushion 30 for a different set of exercise
dynamics.
[0029] In order to lock seat frame 16 and its cushion 30 in a centered and
non-
rotating position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rear seat frame member 16b has
one tubular end 16d that projects beyond the seat cushion 30 and has a
vertical
locking hole that aligns with a vertical locking hole 12j that is in the rear
arm
extension 50b but may alternatively be in the rear base frame extension 12 in
the embodiment of Fig. 8, but especially when the arms are connected to the
seat frame in the embodiment of Fig. 9. A locking pin 70 having a shaft 70a
and a ball handle 70b has its shaft 70a inserted into the aligned locking
holes
to lock the seat frame in place. As best shown in Fig. 10, an annular groove
70c near the top end of shaft 70a resists accidental withdrawal of the locking
pin 70 as the user exercises by catching the sheet metal material of the
hollow
tubes making up the seat and base frames at the locking holes. By the action
of gravity and with the help of the extra weight of ball handle 70a, the pin
70 is
randomly cause to fall back into its locked position rather than being pushed
out
of the locking holes during an exercise session. With the locking pin pulled
out
of the locking holes as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the seat cushion 30 can be
rotated to the left and right as the user rotates his or her waist for
enhancing the
exercise routine.
[0030] One pulley 60 is mounted for rotation at each side of the base
frame 12
near a rear end of the base frame about the bolts 15. A tension spring 80 has
an eye 84 at one end engaged onto a spring post 14c extending from the back
frame side member 14a, and an eye 85 on its opposite end engaged onto a
spring post 12f extending from the base frame side member 12a, for biasing the
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back frame 14 toward the forward upright position shown in Figs. 1 and 8.
Threaded knobs 86 are screwed onto the threaded ends of spring posts 14c
and 12f to secure the springs 80 on place. A resilient, e.g. foam rubber
sleeve
82 covers each spring 80 and each resilient sleeve-covered spring is engaged
with the groove of one of the pulleys 60.
[0031] Another
embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig, 12 where a pair of
tandem pulleys 60, 60 mounted for rotation on a longer bold 15 at each side of
the base frame and tension springs 80 connected between the base frame and
the back frame side members each with a resilient sleeve 82 covering each
spring, is engaged with each pulley 60 for biasing the back frame toward the
forward upright position with twice the strength. This adds more resistance to
each back movement toward the recumbent position for a stronger workout.
The tandem pulleys can be used with the prior abdominal exercisers of U.S.
Patents 7,381,171 and D581,471, or with the improvements of Figs. 1-11. As
also shown in Fig. 12 and also usable with the tandem pulleys and/or with the
improvements of Figs. 1-11, is an elastic fabric band 90 that has a width that
is
wide enough to cover the single pulley 60 or the double pulleys 60, 60, and a
circumference that is slightly less than the path around the pulleys 60, the
spring posts and the springs 80 with covering sleeves 82. In use the band 90
is stretched over the pulleys and engaged sleeve-covered springs, and is held
in place by one or a pair of hook-and-loop covered straps 92 that are threaded
behind the one or two springs 80, at locations over and, if two straps are
use,
under the area of engagement between the sleeves 82 and the grooves of the
pulleys 60, and then back over the band until the straps are engage to
themselves at their bases, and held in place be the hook-and-loop action on
there touching surfaces. The use of these elastic bands 90 serve two
purposes. Firstly, they are a safety measure in case any part of the springs
or
their attachments break, to keep all parts confined inside the elastic band so
nothing flies away for the device. Secondly the elastic bands reduce or muffle
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any noise created by the springs and pulleys as the device is cycled between
upright and recumbent positions during an exercise cession.
[0032] While
specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the
invention,
it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without
departing from such principles.
