Device for protecting neck and upper back during abdominal exercises

• US 5,807,220 A
• Filed: 05/14/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Allis, Shelly M. Allis, Thomas A. Baird
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Allis, Shelly M. Allis, Thomas A. Baird
• Inventors: Baird, Thomas A., Allis, Shelly M., Allis, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CLARK, JEANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/647,708
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 482/10, 482/95, 482/131, 482/132, 482/140, 482/139, 482/142, 482/148, 602/19, 601/39, 606/240, 5/636, 5/637, 5/643, 128/869, 128/870, D21/191, D21/193, D24/191
• US Class Current: 482/140
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs

Abstract

An exercise device for use in exercising the abdominal muscles by performing sit-ups, which device protects the neck and upper back while the user performs such exercises.

Claims

1. A device for use by a person in performing an abdominal sit-up, crunch or curl comprising:

a rigid contoured member having a curved concave headrest section adapted for cradling the head of a person, a curved convex neck section adapted to be contoured to the biomechanical/anatomic curves of the spine for supporting the alignment of the cervical spine of a person, and a slightly concaved back section merging with said neck section adapted for extending under and supporting the upper back of a person, said head, neck, and back sections being interconnected and contoured and adapted to substantially match the biomechanical alignment of the head, neck, and upper back of a person;

a handle on each side of said neck section;

said handles being provided by an elongated rigid member secured under the neck section and extending lengthwise a lateral distance from each side of said neck section;

and a hand grip secured to each of the ends of said elongated rigid member.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said back section sized and configured to extend down the back of a person into the thoracic spine.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the surface of said back section opposite the surface that engages the back of a person includes a rounded portion allowing diagonal/oblique sit-ups to be performed.

4. The device of claim 1 in which the surface of said back section opposite the surface that engages the back of a person includes a rounded portion allowing diagonal/oblique sit-ups to be performed.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said rounded portion is a rounded pivot point.

6. The device of claim 1 in which a high density foam mat extends below and fans out from the back section.

7. A device for use by an individual in performing an abdominal sit-up or curl comprising:

a rigid contoured member having a curved concave headrest section adapted for cradling the head of a person, a curved convex neck section adapted to be contoured to the biomechanical/anatomic curve of the spine for supporting the alignment of the cervical spine of a person, and a slightly concaved back section merging with said neck section adapted for extending under and supporting the upper back of a person, said head, neck, and back sections being interconnected and contoured and adapted to substantially match the biomechanical alignment of the head, neck, and upper back of a person;

a handle on each side of said neck section;

said handles being provided by an elongated rigid member secured under the neck section and extending on each side thereof;

and a hand grip secured to each of the ends of said elongated rigid member.

8. In a device for use by an individual in performing an abdominal sit-up, crunch or curl comprising:

a rigid contoured member having a curved concave head section adapted for cradling the head of a person, a curved convex neck section adapted to be contoured to the biomechanical/anatomic curves of a spine for supporting the cervical spine of a person, and a slightly concaved back section merging with said neck section and adapted for extending under and supporting the upper back of a person, said back section having a substantially narrow rigid portion of a reduced width as compared to said head and neck sections but being sufficiently wide to support the midthoracic spine of a person, said head, neck, and back sections being one piece and adapted to be contoured to substantially match the biomechanical alignment of the head, neck, and upper back of a person;

said back section including a fanned out section provided below and to the sides of said narrow rigid portion.

9. The device of claim 8 in which a handle is provided on each side of said neck section.

10. The device of claim 9 in which each of said handles extends a distance from a side edge of said neck section, and said handles include hand grips.