Abdominals and arms muscles exercise device

• US 5,964,685 A
• Filed: 05/12/1998
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin O'Brien Boland
• Original Assignee: Kevin O'Brien Boland
• Inventors: Boland, Kevin O'Brien
• Primary Examiner(s): DONNELLY, JEROME W
• Application Number:
  US09/075,815
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 482/122, 482/125, 482/140, 482/124, 482/126, 482/121
• US Class Current: 482/122
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• 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: A63B 23/03516 For both arms together or both legs together; Aspects related to the co-ordination between right and left side limbs of a user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously

Abstract

A lap-based exercise device for conditioning abdominals and arms is provided. It includes a horizontal first pair of parallel members, which pair defines an elongate trough that concurrently receives one end of a rigid spanner bar and a linked one end of an associated band tensioning means. The other end of the spanner bar is pinned to a second pair of upstanding, spaced apart members pressing the torso, with such upstanding members being linked at their lower ends to the longitudinal ends of the first pair via a second torso-side crossbar. A third crossbar is pinned to the outer longitudinal ends of the first parallel pair and includes a pair of manually grippable means for activation of the device. Upon curling movement of the grippable means toward the user torso, the spanner bar and the operatively linked tensioning means provide the counter resistance which allows for a smoother range of arcuate arm motion for the exerciser. A chest-initiated movement involves the chest moving towards the user lap for abdominals exercise and a hand-initiated movement involves the leg oriented cross bar moving towards the user'"'"'s chest.

Claims

1. A multifunctional, portable, lap-based exercise device comprising:

(a) a first pair of spaced-apart, elongate parallel rigid members defining a substantially uniform, linear trough having a proximal-to-the-user torso first longitudinal end and a distal second longitudinal end;

(b) a linear channel disposed lengthwise of the inner surface of each of the opposing surfaces of the first pair and serving to provide a dual channel, linear track;

(c) a first cross strut, which straddles the linear trough located distally between the parallel members of the first pair;

(d) a spaced-apart, upstanding, second pair of rigid members being secured attached at their lower longitudinal ends to the proximal longitudinal ends of the first pair of members;

(e) a second cross member aligned transversely at the junction of the first and second pairs of members and adapted to afford lateral stability to the device while same is positioned in the lap of a user;

(f) a third cross member aligned transversely at the upper longitudinal ends of the second pair of members and adapted to be anchored centrally thereof, so to afford added lateral stability to the device while positioned in the user lap;

(g) a short fourth cross member located straddling the transverse gap defined by the spaced-apart members of the second pair and positioned intermediate of their longitudinal ends;

(h) a single rigid spanning bar connected pivotally at its upper longitudinal end to the fourth cross member and connected pivotally at its lower longitudinal end to the first cross strut;

(i) a fifth cross member secured across the distal longitudinal ends of said first pair of members and providing a manually grippable means serving to activate the exercise device;

(j) a track-follower assembly pivotally attached to the first cross strut, which assembly operatively traverses the dual channel of said first pair, as driven by said fifth cross member and being secured centrally thereof;

(k) a variably aligned, axially-movable resilient tensioning band with the distal band segment being anchored at its longitudinal end to the track-follower assembly and with the proximal band segment being anchored at its opposing longitudinal end to the first cross strut; and

(l) a second cross strut straddling between the first pair of rigid members, located proximal to the second cross member, and being in a sliding engagement with the width of the movable band, which strut serves as a translation point for the reciprocating change of direction of the band during device use;

whereby upon manually drawing inwardly the fifth cross member along an inherent arcuate range of motion, the spanning bar thereby moves the follower assembly somewhat distally along the linear track, against the countervailing tension imposed thereon by the operatively-connected tensioning band upon manual release, and conversely permitting the track follower assembly to return to its at rest position.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said second pair of members are provided with an arcuate bowing along their intermediate length.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the track-follower assembly is provided with laterally aligned, pair of roller means, which roller means traverses the linear channels of said first pair of members.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the third cross member is provided with sleeve-like cushion elements.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fifth cross member is provided with upwardly oriented, longitudinal ends for convenient manual gripping.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper longitudinal ends of the second pair of upstanding members present a generally cylindrical, rigid tubular end, the arcuate surface of which end is provided with a horizontally-aligned, slot-like first opening, positioned proximal to the upper rim of the tubular end, and which slot is adapted to receive an elongate fastener means therethrough;

and

the associated second cross member is adapted to include a centrally located, integral tubular sleeve element that is dimensionally sized to telescopically engage the periphery of the rim of the upper tubular end, with the superimposed tubular sleeve also having a slot-like second opening also being located peripherally, so as to coincide with the first opening, and thus to receive, in sliding engagement, the shaft of the elongate fastener means, whereby the third cross member is thusly adapted to provide for limited horizontal pivoting while abutting the moving torso of the device user.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the rigid tubular end of the second pair is provided with a sized, resilient cylindrical core adapted for sliding insertion therein and which facilitates automatic self-centering of the third cross member.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the first pair of rigid members are formed as a unitary member having a rigid elongate segment bridging between the lower flanged edges of the opposing parallel channels.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the tensioning band is located partially within the trough defined by the first pair of rigid members for its distal longitudinal segment and concurrently being located partially within the transverse gap defined by the upstanding, second pair for its proximal longitudinal segment.

10. A multifunctional, portable, lap-based exercise device comprising:

(a) a first pair of spaced-apart, elongate parallel rigid members defining a substantially uniform, linear trough having a proximal-to-the-user torso first longitudinal end and a distal second longitudinal end;

(b) a linear channel disposed lengthwise of the inner surface of each of the opposing surfaces of the first pair and serving to provide a dual channel, linear track;

(c) a first cross strut, which straddles the linear trough located distally between the parallel members of the first pair;

(d) a spaced-apart, upstanding, second pair of rigid members being secured attached at their lower longitudinal ends to the proximal longitudinal ends of the first pair of members;

(e) a second cross member aligned transversely at the junction of the first and second pairs of members and adapted to afford lateral stability to the device while same is positioned in the lap of a user;

(f) a third cross member aligned transversely at the upper longitudinal ends of the second pair of members and adapted to be anchored centrally thereof, so to afford added lateral stability to the device while positioned in the user lap;

(g) a short fourth cross member located straddling the transverse gap defined by the spaced-apart members of the second pair and positioned intermediate of their longitudinal ends;

(h) a spanning bar connected pivotally at its upper longitudinal end to the fourth cross member and connected pivotally at its lower longitudinal end to the first cross strut, said bar comprising a pair of linear tubular members having one member sized dimensionally to telescopically engage the other tubular member to a controlled degree, which is effected by a mechanism that interruptibly interconnects the opposing inner ends of said members;

(i) a fifth cross member secured across the distal longitudinal ends of said first pair of members and providing a manually grippable means serving to activate the exercise device;

(j) a track-follower assembly pivotally attached to the first cross strut, which assembly operatively traverses the dual channel of said first pair, as driven by said fifth cross member and being secured centrally thereof;

(k) a variably aligned, axially-movable resilient tensioning band with the distal band segment being anchored at its longitudinal end to the track-follower assembly and with the proximal band segment being anchored at its opposing longitudinal end to the first cross strut; and

(l) a second cross strut straddling between the first pair of rigid members, located proximal to the second cross member, and being in a sliding engagement with the width of the movable band, which strut serves as a translation point for the reciprocating change of direction of the band during device use;

whereby upon manually drawing inwardly the fifth cross member along an inherent arcuate range of motion, the spanning bar thereby moves the follower assembly somewhat distally along the linear track, against the countervailing tension imposed thereon by the operatively-connected tensioning band upon manual release, and conversely permitting the track follower assembly to return to its at rest position.