Abdominal exercise apparatus featuring prestretching and weight training facilities

• US 5,897,472 A
• Filed: 09/08/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Suresh Thulasingam
• Original Assignee: Suresh Thulasingam
• Inventors: Thulasingam, Suresh
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/925,154
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 482/99, 482/102, 482/103, 482/130, 482/133-140, 482/142, 482/907, D21/673, D21/675, D21/687, D21/690, D21/695, 297/284.4, 297/284.5, 297/452.3, 297/452.31, 297/452.32, 601/24
• US Class Current: 482/133
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/00 Stools for specified purposes with rotatable seats A47C3/18; with vertically adjustable seats A47C3/20 ; other seating furniture for specified purposes A47C15/004; footstools A47C16/02; prayer stools A47C16/04; platforms or seat-boxes specially adapted for angling A01K97/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4007 to the chest region, e.g. to the back chest
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/907 Stretching

Abstract

An abdominal exercise apparatus (52) comprising an adjustable upright stand (54). A multi-contoured back pad base structure (56) is for positioning, preparing and isolating various muscles of the abdomen of a person (58) during exercise. A component (60) is for mounting the multi-contoured back pad base structure (56) to the adjustable upright stand (54), so that a back (62) of the person (58) can be placed against the multi-contoured back pad base structure (56). A force resistance assembly (64) is affixed onto a top end of the adjustable upright stand (54). A facility (66) is for connecting an upper body (68) of the person (58) to the force resistance assembly (64). When the person (58) moves forwardly away from the multi-contoured back pad base structure (56), the force resistance assembly (64) will apply a force resistance to the upper body (68) of the person (58), to exercise the abdominal muscles of the person (58).

Claims

1. An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising:

a) an upright stand;

b) a multi-contoured back pad base structure for positioning, preparing and isolating various muscles of a person'"'"'s abdomen during exercise;

said multi-contoured back pad base structure including;

a platform;

a pad base on said platform;

left and right contoured pads, each having a convex top surface and a concave bottom surface;

means for attaching said left and right contoured pads to said pad base in a detachable manner, in three different combinations, so as to prestretch a person'"'"'s rectus abdominus, left obliques and right obliques, as per exercise requirement;

said pad base including;

a left side end having a convex surface;

a right side end having a convex surface; and

a middle segment between said left side end and said right side end, with said respective convex surfaces sloping away from said middle segment, so as to allow one half of a person'"'"'s back to recline onto either of said respective convex surfaces;

c) means for mounting said multi-contoured back pad base structure to said upright stand, so that a person'"'"'s back can be placed against said multi-contoured back pad base structure;

d) a force resistance assembly affixed onto a top end of said upright stand; and

e) means for connecting a person'"'"'s upper body to said force resistance assembly so that when the person moves forwardly away from said multi-contoured back pad base structure, said force resistance assembly will apply a force resistance to the upper body of the person, to exercise the person'"'"'s abdominal muscles.

2. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means includes:

a) said left side end of said pad base having a pair of holes therein;

b) said right side end of said pad base having a pair of holes therein;

c) four magnetic pads, wherein said magnetic pads are inserted respectively into bottoms of said holes in said left side end and in said right side end of said pad base;

d) four cylindrical pins, with each said cylindrical pin having a magnetic tip, whereby two said cylindrical pins extend from said concave bottom surface of said left contoured pad to be received in said holes in said left side end of said pad base, so that said two respective magnetic tips will make contact with said two magnetic pads, while the other two said cylindrical pins extend from said concave bottom surface of said right contoured pad to be received in said holes in said right side end of said pad base, so that said two respective magnetic tips will make contact with said two magnetic pads.

3. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including additional left and right contoured pads, each having a convex top surface and a concave bottom surface, said additional left and right contoured pads being connected in a detachable manner to said respective left and right contoured pads to increase arching of a person'"'"'s back when exercising.

4. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said upright stand includes:

a) an elongated horizontal foot plate which sits upon a floor;

b) a vertical leg attached to said foot plate;

c) an understructure bar; and

d) a lock connector between a top end of said vertical leg and a bottom end of said understructure bar, so as to maintain said understructure bar at any desired angle with respect to the floor as per exercise requirement.

5. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said mounting means includes:

a) a hollow tube mounted to a rear surface of said platform, said hollow tube sliding on said understructure bar of said upright stand; and

b) a fastener for retaining said hollow tube on said understructure bar in a stationary position.

6. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said force resistance assembly includes:

a) an arm angularly affixed to a top end of said understructure bar of said upright stand;

b) a grooved bar transversely mounted across a top end of said arm, said grooved bar having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough;

c) an L-shaped extension with a T-formation end having an aperture therethrough;

d) a plurality of wheels carried on said T-formation end of said L-shaped extension which ride within said grooved bar;

e) a pin to extend through one of said holes in said grooved bar and said aperture in said T-formation end of said L-shaped extension, as per exercise requirement;

f) a swivel member on a top end of said L-shaped extension;

g) a casing on said swivel member;

h) a pulley rotatively carried within said casing;

i) an elongate cable extending over said pulley;

j) a ring affixed to an upper end of said elongate cable; and

k) a weight affixed to a lower end of said elongate cable.

7. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said connecting means includes:

a) a hook strap vest to be worn on a person'"'"'s upper body; and

b) five hooks affixed to said hook strap vest for engaging said ring on the upper end of said elongate cable, two of said hooks being located respectively on upper left and upper right portions on said hook strap vest for oblique abdominal exercises, two of said hooks being located at a lower portion of said hook strap vest for transverse abdominal exercises, and one said hook being located centrally on said hook strap vest for rectus abdominal exercise.

8. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 4, further including:

a) a seat; and

b) means for attaching said seat to said vertical leg of said upright stand in a horizontal swivel locking manner below said multi-contoured back pad base structure, so that a person can sit upon said seat to exercise their abdominal muscles.

9. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said seat attaching means includes:

a) said seat having a post which is parallel to said vertical leg of said upright stand; and

b) a sleeve affixed at one side to said vertical leg to receive said post of said seat, whereby said post can swivel within said sleeve, so as to position said seat with respect to said vertical leg as per exercise requirement.

10. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said attaching means includes:

a) said left side end of said pad base having a pair of holes therein;

b) said right side end of said pad base having a pair of holes therein;

c) four magnetic pads, wherein said magnetic pads are inserted respectively into bottoms of said holes in said left side end and in said right side end of said pad base;

d) four cylindrical pins, with each said cylindrical pin having a magnetic tip, whereby two said cylindrical pins extend from said concave bottom surface of said left contoured pad to be received in said holes in said left side end of said pad base, so that said two respective magnetic tips will make contact with said two magnetic pads, while the other two said cylindrical pins extend from said concave bottom surface of said right contoured pad to be received in said holes in said right side end of said pad base, so that said two respective magnetic tips will make contact with said two magnetic pads.

11. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said mounting means includes:

a) a hollow tube mounted to a rear surface of said platform, said hollow tube sliding on said understructure bar of said upright stand; and

b) a fastener for retaining said hollow tube on said understructure bar in a stationary position.

12. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said force resistance assembly includes:

a) an arm angularly affixed to a top end of said understructure bar of said upright stand;

b) a grooved bar transversely mounted across a top end of said arm, said grooved bar having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough;

c) an L-shaped extension with a T-formation end having an aperture therethrough;

d) a plurality of wheels carried on said T-formation end of said L-shaped extension which ride within said grooved bar;

e) a pin to extend through one of said holes in said grooved bar and said aperture in said T-formation end of said L-shaped extension, as per exercise requirement;

f) a swivel member on a top end of said L-shaped extension;

g) a casing on said swivel member;

h) a pulley rotatively carried within said casing;

i) an elongate cable extending over said pulley;

j) a ring affixed to an upper end of said elongate cable; and

k) a weight affixed to a lower end of said elongate cable.

13. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said connecting means includes:

a) a hook strap vest to be worn on a person'"'"'s upper body; and

b) five hooks affixed to said hook strap vest for engaging said ring on the upper end of said elongate cable, two of said hooks being located respectively on upper left and upper right portions on said hook strap vest for oblique abdominal exercises, two of said hooks being located at a lower portion of said hook strap vest for transverse abdominal exercises, and one said hook being located centrally on said hook strap vest for rectus abdominal exercise.

14. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 13, further including:

a) a seat; and

b) means for attaching said seat to said vertical leg of said upright stand in a horizontal swivel locking manner below said multi-contoured back pad base structure, so that a person can sit upon said seat to exercise their abdominal muscles.

15. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said seat attaching seat means includes:

a) said seat having a post which is parallel to said vertical leg of said upright stand; and

b) a sleeve affixed at one side to said vertical leg to receive said post of said seat, whereby said post can swivel within said sleeve, so as to position said seat with respect to said vertical leg as per exercise requirement.

16. An abdominal exercise apparatus as recited in claim 15, further including additional left and right contoured pads, each having a convex top surface and a concave bottom surface, said additional left and right contoured pads being connected in a detachable manner to said respective left and right contoured pads to increase arching of the a person'"'"'s back when exercising.