Abdominal exercise machine

• US 7,611,445 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AB Coaster Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AB Coaster Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Nelson, Robert W., Brown, Wallace
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/211,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20090018000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 482/72, 482/142, 482/140, 482 91- 96, 482/62, 482/69, 482/143, 482/907, 482/51, 482/135, 482/139, 482/148, D21/662, D21/676, D21/686, D21/674, D21/690
• US Class Current: 482/51
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/206 on a curved path
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0085 using pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/02 using resilient force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/205 in a substantially vertical plane, e.g. for exercising against gravity exercising for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a user's body weight A63B21/068; with adjustable inclination A63B22/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0219 on hands and knees
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0242 Lying down
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0216 moving lower limbs with immobilized torso

Abstract

A machine, apparatus, and method for targeting the abdominal and oblique muscle groups. The abdominal exercise system includes a frame, carriage, and an upper body support. In one embodiment, the user places at least a portion of their lower body on the carriage. The user leans their forearms and elbows against an angled upper body support while grasping a set of handles to secure the user'"'"'s upper body. In turn, the user swings the carriage back and forth along an arcuate path beginning at a position behind the upper body support and ending at a position in front of the upper support, thereby contracting and relaxing the abdominal muscle group.

Claims

1. An exercise machine to work a user'"'"'s abdominal muscle group, the exercise machine comprising:

a frame;

an upper body support attached to the frame; and

a swing assembly attached to the frame, wherein the swing assembly includes a swing arm connected to a carriage, the carriage traversing back and forth an arcuate path defined by the swing arm and capable of pivoting in front of the upper body support.

2. The abdominal exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carriage includes a seat member and padding, the padding conforming to a user'"'"'s body.

3. The abdominal exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper body support is adjustable through a telescopic extension.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises:

a first support member;

a second support member coupled to the first support member; and

at least one parallel member, wherein each parallel member is coupled to the first support member and the second support member.

5. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the at least one parallel member can be removed for easy set-up and storage of the exercise machine.

6. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the second support member and the first support member are coupled at multiple angles for adjusting an angle of the upper body support and a distance between the carriage and the upper body support.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the upper body support comprises:

a pair of elbow pads;

a pair of forearm pads; and

a pair of handle bars.

8. The abdominal exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the elbow pad supports a majority of a user'"'"'s upper body weight and the carriage supports a majority of a user'"'"'s lower body weight.

9. The exercise machine of claim 7, wherein the upper body support is angled allowing for the pair of elbow pads to support a majority of a user'"'"'s upper body weight.

10. An exercise method for targeting a user'"'"'s abdominal muscle groups and to isolate an upper and lower abdominal muscle group in a biometrically neutral position, the method comprising:

placing at least a portion of a user'"'"'s lower body on a carriage;

positioning a user'"'"'s upper body to an upper support; and

using an abdominal muscle group to swing the carriage back and forth along an arcuate path, the path beginning at a position behind the upper support and ending at a position in front of the upper support; and

pulling the user'"'"'s lower body laterally on the carriage along the arcuate path thereby performing a contraction of a user'"'"'s oblique and transverse abdominal muscles.

11. An exercise method for targeting a user'"'"'s abdominal muscle groups and to isolate an upper and lower abdominal muscle group in a biometrically neutral position, the method comprising:

placing at least a portion of a user'"'"'s lower body on a carriage;

positioning a user'"'"'s upper body to an upper support; and

using an abdominal muscle group to swing the carriage back and forth along an arcuate path, the path beginning at a position behind the upper support and ending at a position in front of the upper support;

wherein positioning a user'"'"'s upper body to an upper support includes leaning a user'"'"'s forearms and elbows against the upper support while grasping a set of handles of the upper support to secure and hold the user'"'"'s upper body.

12. The exercise method of claim 11, further comprises leaning at an angle relative to the plane defined by the carriage.

13. The exercise method of claim 11, wherein the position behind the upper support includes relaxing the abdominal muscle group.

14. The exercise method of claim 11, wherein the position in front of the upper support includes contracting the abdominal muscle group.