Abstract:
An exercise apparatus and method for lower back, abdominal, and leg conditioning. The apparatus is configurable between a pivoting condition and a fixed position. In the pivoting condition, a backboard, pivotally mounted to a frame, is configured for a user to lay on the backboard and alternately raise and lower their hips, while supporting their feet on a foot plate. In a fixed condition, the backboard is positioned proximal to the foot plate, and a user may perform one or more abdominal exercises.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly to exercise equipment for conditioning the lumbar and gluteal muscle groups. The apparatus contemplated herein help to strengthen back and butt muscles without putting pressure on your neck and shoulders. 
         [0002]    With conventional exercises, a user would use a floor surface or an exercise ball with nothing to make your muscles stronger. Exercising on the floor presents challenges in applying pressure to the neck and shoulder muscles 
         [0003]    The apparatus of the present invention allows a user to lie flat on their back and remain flat on their back during performance of conditioning exercises. As their conditioning and strength in their back and gluteus muscles improve they may add elastic bands to add resistance to the exercise. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, an exercise apparatus is disclosed which includes an elongate frame member; an upstanding frame pivot arm attached to a first end portion of the elongate frame member; a backboard frame pivotally attached to the elongate frame member via the upstanding frame pivot arm; and a foot plate, attached to a second end portion of the elongate frame member via a foot plate support. The backboard frame is selectively positioned between a lowered position and an elevated position. 
         [0005]    In a preferred embodiment, a pivot arm is pivotally connected between the upstanding pivot arm and an intermediate portion of the backboard frame. The backboard frame may be selectively positioned about the pivot arm between a retracted position, proximal to the foot plate, and an extended position, distal from the foot plate: The apparatus may be configured with a retractable lock pin attached to a lower end of the backboard frame that is operable to extend from an end thereof and a lock hole defined in an end portion of the foot plate proximal to the backboard frame. The lock pin may be selectively engaged with the lock hole to retain the backboard in a fixed position relative to the foot plate. 
         [0006]    The exercise apparatus may also be configured with a par of grip handles extending laterally outwardly from a lower portion of the backboard frame. A padded backboard attached to the backboard frame, may have a lumbar support wedge disposed at the lower portion of the padded backboard. In some embodiments, a foot bar is laterally disposed across the foot plate and elevated with respect to an upper surface of the foot plate. In other embodiments, the exercise apparatus may also include: a backboard bungee attachment disposed on a lower side of the backboard frame; a frame bungee attachment disposed on the upstanding frame pivot arm; and an elastic cord operatively connected between the backboard bungee attachment and the frame bungee attachment. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the invention is a method of conditioning exercise, which includes providing an exercise apparatus, with an elongate frame member; an upstanding frame pivot arm attached to a first end portion of the elongate frame member; a backboard frame pivotally attached to the elongate frame member via a pivot arm the upstanding frame pivot arm; and a foot plate, attached to a second end portion of the elongate frame member via a foot plate support; operating the apparatus to pivot the backboard between a lowered position and an elevated position. In other aspects, the method may include positioning the backboard about the pivot arm to a retracted position proximal to the foot plate. The method may also entail positioning the backboard about the pivot arm to an extended position distal from the foot plate. The method may also include locking the backboard in a fixed position. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an exercise apparatus in a lowered position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the exercise apparatus in an elevated position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom partial perspective view of the exercise apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a section detail view of the exercise apparatus along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a section detail view of a pivot link. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the exercise apparatus shown in a retracted configuration. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a detail top view of the exercise apparatus shown in a retracted configuration. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a section detail view of the exercise apparatus taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the exercise apparatus shown in use in an exemplary initial lowered state. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the exercise apparatus shown in use in an exemplary elevated state. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the exercise apparatus shown in use in a retracted configuration and in use in an exemplary initial exercise position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the invention shown in use in an alternate use in a retracted configuration and in use in an exercise position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0022]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an exercise apparatus that allows a user to condition their lower back, abdomen and upper leg muscles. The apparatus may be reconfigurable to provide a platform for performing different types of conditioning exercises. 
         [0023]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an exercise apparatus  10  of the present invention has a backboard  12  mounted to a backboard frame  14 . The backboard frame  14  is pivotally attached to an upstanding frame pivot arm  24 . The frame pivot arms  24  are attached at a first end portion of an elongate main frame member  22 . A foot platform  32  is operatively attached to a second end portion of the main frame member  22  at by one or more foot plate supports  34 . The apparatus  10  may be supported by a plurality of feet  36  attached to the main frame  22  in a spaced apart relation. The feet  36  may be adjustable to provide for leveling the apparatus  10 . 
         [0024]    The backboard  12  may be formed as a substantially rectangular plate of material, such as wood, plywood, composites, plastic, or the like. A layer of foam padding may cover an upper surface of the plate and may then be covered by a fabric material. Preferably, the fabric material a vinyl or other water resistant cleanable fabric that may be sanitized or cleaned with surface wiping with a disinfectant and cleaning cloth. A lumbar wedge  46 , that may also be formed of a foam or padding material is provided at a lower end portion of the backboard  12 , and is also covered by a fabric material. A belt  38  with a buckle  40  may be provided to extend about a user&#39;s waist or torso to secure their lower torso to the backboard  12  with their lumbar region supported by the wedge  46 . The backboard  12  may secured to the backboard frame  14  via a plurality of fasteners, such as screws, bolts, clips, and the like. 
         [0025]    A pair of grip handles  16  are attached to the backboard frame  14  and extend from opposed sides of the lower portion of the frame  14  proximal to the lumbar support wedge  46 . The grip handles  16  extend laterally outwardly from the frame to provide the user a hand gripping structure when utilizing the apparatus  10 . The backboard frame  14  and grip handles  16  may be formed from a plurality of structural members formed of a rigid material, such as steel, aluminum, composites and the like. 
         [0026]    As best seen in reference to  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 , the backboard frame  14  is pivotally attached to the upright support  24  at a backboard pivot point  20 , which may be a sleeve attached to the frame  14  or a backboard pivot aperture extending through a longitudinal backboard frame member. A pivot link  72 , depicted in  FIG. 5 , has a first end aperture through which a backboard pivot pin  74  is received. The backboard pivot pin  74  is also received through the backboard pivot pin  20 . 
         [0027]    The pivot link  72  has a second end aperture that is offset from the first end aperture. The second end aperture is adapted to receive a main frame pivot pin  76  which extends through a cooperating pivot aperture defined at an upper end of the upstanding frame pivot arm  24 . The pivot link  72  permits pivotal movement of the backboard frame  14  about the main frame pivot pin  76  during exercise. The pivot link  72  also permits pivotal displacement of the backboard frame  14  between an extended position seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , and a retracted position, seen in reference to  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         [0028]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , a back surface of the backboard frame  14  may also include a backboard bungee attachment  18 , which may be a transverse bar, or, alternatively, one or more attachment loops or hooks. A frame resistance attachment  28  may be attached proximal to the upright supports  24 . A bungee cord, or elastic cord  58  may be attached between the backboard resistance attachment  18  and the frame resistance attachment  28  to provide additional resistance to the user during an exercise routine. The backboard resistance attachment  28  may be adjustable along the length of the backboard frame  14  to provide variability in the resistance. The longitudinal frame member  22  may be provided with one or more posts  70  to receive and stow the elastic cords  58  when not utilized to provide added resistance. 
         [0029]    As previously indicated, the foot plate  32  is disposed at a proximal end portion frame  22  and is positioned in an elevated relation to the floor and generally at the same elevation as the backboard  14  via the support  34 . The support  34 , is preferably configured to position the foot plate  32  at an angle facing towards the backboard  14 , such that a user may comfortably place the bottoms of their feet on the foot plate. A foot bar  60  may extend laterally across the foot plate  32  and is adapted to receive a toe portion of the user&#39;s feet beneath the foot bar  60 , so as to provide a holding force to the user&#39;s toes and leverage during exercise. The foot plate  32  may also include an end plate  64  attached to the foot plate  32  proximal to the backboard  14 . The endplate extends laterally across the foot plate  32  to support the heels of a user&#39;s feet. 
         [0030]    As best seen in reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the lower end of the backboard frame  14  may include a backboard locking pin  68  that retractably extends from the end of the frame  14 . The backboard locking pin  68  is adapted to be received within a lock hole  66  defined in an end of the foot plate  32 , preferably in a face of the end plate  64 . When the backboard frame  14  is articulated in close proximity to the foot plate  32 , the lock pin  68  may be extended to engage within the lock hole  66  in order to secure the backboard frame  14  and prevent pivotal movement of the frame  14 . When the lock pin  68  is retracted from the lock hole  66 , the backboard frame may be moved about the pivot link  72 . 
         [0031]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 9-12 , a user may configure the apparatus  10  to perform a variety of conditioning exercises for the abdominals, lumbar, and legs. When configured with the backboard  12  in an extended position, the user may mount the apparatus  10  by laying upon the backboard  12  with their waist positioned at the lower end of the backboard  12  with the lumbar wedge  46  positioned against their lumbar region. The user may secure themselves to the backboard via the belt  38 . The user places their feet  50  upon the foot plate  32  with their toes disposed beneath the foot bar  60 . The user may then flex the desired muscle groups to pivot the backboard  12  between a lowered position, seen in  FIG. 9  and an elevated position seen in reference to  FIG. 10 . 
         [0032]    For example, the user may push downward with their feet and legs and lift their butt as high as they can in the air squeezing (pooching) your gluteal muscles together at the top of the movement and hold for a second and then let the backboard  12  back down to the base of the machine. The user may repeat the movement, for example performing three sets of 10 to 20 reps. As previously indicated, if the user  48  desires additional resistance during their conditioning regimen, they may attach one or more elastic cords  58  between the backboard frame  14  and the upright support  24 , via the respective bungee attachments  18 ,  28 . 
         [0033]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the user  50  may also configure the apparatus  10  to perform exercises more focused on the abdominal muscle groups. The user may articulate the backboard frame  14  towards the foot plate  32  and secure the lock pin  68  in the lock hole  66 . The user may then utilize the apparatus  10  to perform an abdominal conditioning regimen, including crunches, sit-ups, and the like. 
         [0034]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.