Compact abdominal exercise apparatus
First Claim
1. A compact abdominal exercise apparatus comprising:
- (a) a lower body support adapted to engage a portion of the human body below the abdomen;
(b) an upper body support adapted to engage a portion of the human body above the abdomen; and
(c) an upper body support and lower body support connector assembly comprising;
a first member having a first member proximal end and a first member distal end;
a second member having a second member proximal end and a second member distal end;
a first elastic anchor member attached to said first member;
a second elastic anchor member attached to said second member;
said lower body support attached to the proximal end of one of said first member and said second member and said upper body support attached to the proximal end of the other of said first member and said second member; and
said first member slideably fitting within said second member with said first elastic anchor member longitudinally slideable within said first member and located farther from the one of said lower body support and said upper body support to which it is attached than the one of said lower body support and said upper body support to which it is not attached.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact portable abdominal exercise apparatus comprising a first member that concentrically slides in a second member, and resistance is provided by elastic attached between the distal end of the first member and the distal end of the second member. Handles position the user in an ergonomically neutral position that requires a user to crunch straight downward for the first member to slide properly within the second member. The straight downward crunching motion requires flexion of the user'"'"'s lower vertebra column, thereby isolating the abdominal muscles from the hip flexors and back muscles. Molded covers protect the user from moving parts associated with the connector assembly. The elastic members can be quickly changed by the user.
6 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A compact abdominal exercise apparatus comprising:
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(a) a lower body support adapted to engage a portion of the human body below the abdomen;
(b) an upper body support adapted to engage a portion of the human body above the abdomen; and
(c) an upper body support and lower body support connector assembly comprising;
a first member having a first member proximal end and a first member distal end;
a second member having a second member proximal end and a second member distal end;
a first elastic anchor member attached to said first member;
a second elastic anchor member attached to said second member;
said lower body support attached to the proximal end of one of said first member and said second member and said upper body support attached to the proximal end of the other of said first member and said second member; and
said first member slideably fitting within said second member with said first elastic anchor member longitudinally slideable within said first member and located farther from the one of said lower body support and said upper body support to which it is attached than the one of said lower body support and said upper body support to which it is not attached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A compact abdominal exercise apparatus comprising:
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(a) a forward thigh member adapted to engage the forward portion of the human thigh;
b) an upper body member adapted to engage a portion of the body above the abdomen;
(c) a plurality of resilient cords;
(d) a lower body cord anchor;
(e) an upper body cord anchor;
(f) a constraint assembly connecting said lower body member and said upper body member;
said constraint assembly permitting relative motion of said lower body member and said upper body member in a first direction along a line connecting said lower body member and said upper body member and preventing relative motion of said lower body member and said upper body member in directions perpendicular to said first direction;
said constraint assembly including;
a lower body support member rigidly connecting said lower body member and said lower body cord anchor; and
an upper body support member rigidly connecting said upper body member and said upper body cord anchor;
(g) said lower body cord anchor located closer to said upper body member than said upper body cord anchor; and
(h) said resilient cords connectable between said lower body cord anchor and said upper body cord anchor. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A compact abdominal exercise apparatus comprising:
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(a) a lower body member adapted to engage a portion of the human body below the abdomen;
(b) an upper body member adapted to engage a portion of the human body above the abdomen;
(c) a constraint assembly connecting said lower body member and said upper body member, said constraint assembly permitting relative motion of said lower body member and said upper body member in a first direction along a line connecting said lower body member and said upper body member and preventing relative motion of said lower body member and said upper body member in directions perpendicular to said first direction, said constraint assembly including a resistance mechanism resisting but not preventing relative motion of said lower body member and said upper body member in said first direction; and
(d) a protective cover substantially enclosing said constraint assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for exercising abdominal muscles wherein a user grasps the handles of a compact abdominal exercise apparatus comprising a connector assembly, said connector assembly comprising a first member attached to said handles and slideably fitting within a second member adapted to fit the users lap, said method comprising:
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compressing said first member towards said second member and stopping at a first position; and
pausing said compressing for a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification