Abstract:
An abdominal bench having an extendable and retractable assist and resist assembly that will, depending upon how it is connected, provide variable levels of assistance forces to help pivot a torso section of the bench into an upright position and/or variable levels of forces that will resist the pivoting of the torso section. The extendable and retractable assist and resist assembly can include one or more elastic members that can work solely or in tandem to provide the assistance and resistance forces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present invention is related to the following co-pending U.S. Patent applications: (1) U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,154 entitled “Variable Resistance Abdominal Bench”, which issued on Apr. 8, 2003, (2) U.S. Pat. No. 6,844,203 entitled “Abdominal Bench with Constant Gap Torso Cushion”, which issued on Apr. 26, 2005;. (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/111,994 entitled “Abdominal Bench with Constant Gap Torso Cushion”, filed on Apr. 22, 2005; and (4) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/730,856 entitled “Abdominal Bench”, filed on Oct. 28, 2005, which are commonly owned at the time of filing and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0002]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright or mask work protection. The copyright or mask work owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright or mask work rights whatsoever.  
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0003]     This disclosure relates to variable resistance abdominal benches where user can be either assisted in using the equipment by helping a user to pivot the torso section of the bench up or can set variable amounts of resistance against which a user must pull when using the equipment.  
       INTRODUCTION  
       [0004]     The present invention concerns abdominal exercise benches that includes a variety of assist and/or resist mechanisms, other than a weight, that will enable users to achieve the full benefits of abdominal work outs, and provides an abdominal exercise device that permits first time, injured or otherwise challenged or impaired users to also effectively use the equipment in incremental amounts. This latter group can be assisted in abdominal workouts, at varying amounts of assistance, yet work through the assist phases until more and more resistance is added.  
         [0005]     Glossary: As used throughout this document:  
         [0006]     The term “assist and/or resist mechanism” shall include all forms of devices and/or mechanism that can pull, push, employ compression or tension forces, including elastic devices, so that a user can establish a condition where the pivoting torso section of the bench can either be assisted in that pivoting motion or, alternatively, a condition where that pivoting motion is resisted, and provide varying levels of both assistance or resistance.  
         [0007]     The phrase “elastic” shall mean any stretchable, elongatable, movable mechanism, as well as any elastomeric or elastic material, item, or device that can, using either pulling or pushing functions, or tension or compression forces, that will either push against the pivoting torso section of the bench and assist a user when trying to pivot the torso section from a down position into a use position, or alternatively that will provide a resistance force against which a user must pull to pivot the torso section of the bench.  
       DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES  
       [0008]     The invention is better understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is diagrammatic view of an abdominal bench showing the multiple positions thereof;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of an abdominal bench and several assist and resist options;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows diagrammatic view of an abdominal bench with other assist and resist options;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of an abdominal bench similar to  FIG. 1  but with other resist options; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     The two above related patents show abdominal benches that employ a weight arranged to slide between several positions to provide either more or less weight beneath the pivoting torso portion of the bench. At one of the extreme positions the weight will actually aid or assist the equipment user and acts like a negative weight. At the opposite position the full amount of the weight must be lifted when performing a sit up.  
         [0015]     It has been found that another approach might work as well and rather than employing a weight one can use one or more elastic members, or some other form of structure that could provide resistance in one direction yet assist or provide a negative load in another direction.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic and broad view of the concept of the abdominal bench in the above referenced applications, with the bench  10  being comprised of a frame  12  as torso section  14  pivotally attached to the frame  12  and movable between a lowered position, shown in full lines, and a raised position shown in dotted lines. A weight mechanism  18  is attached to the torso section  14  and a weight  20  can move along a support  22  between positions A. B. and C. A foot section is shown at  24  that can move between the full and dotted lines positions. Since the weight mechanism  18  is attached to and moves with the torso section  14  the weight mechanism  18  is also shown in full line (down) and dotted line (raised) positions. When weight  20  is in the A position the weight provides a negative weight and actually assists the user in performing sit ups. In the B position the weight  20  is in a neutral position and in the C position the weight  20  is applying its greatest resistance load to the user. Positions in between these three positions provide more or less assistance or resistance weight depending upon where the weight is located.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a first embodiment of alternative assist and/or resist mechanisms that will provide additional abdominal exercising opportunities. The torso section, shown at  30  along with gripping arms  31 , is pivotally mounted to frame  32  and will continue to be pivotal between the full line position and various positions toward a full vertical, one of which is shown by the dotted line. A foot section  38  is also pivotally attached to frame  32  and will be movable, at least between the full and dotted line positions shown. In this embodiment it is preferred to include a frame member  34  attached to the torso section  30 , or at least a link structure, that will provide an interior end  36  that is connected to torso section  30  that will act as an attachment point for the assist/resist mechanism  40 .  
         [0018]     The assist/resist mechanism  40  is comprised of a first elastic member  42  one end of which is connected to end  36  of the frame member  34  and the other end is attached to the frame  32  at a point  46 . A second elastic member  44  is interconnected between end  36  and frame  32  at a point  48 , on the opposite side of frame  32  from point  46 . Both elastic members  42  and  44  are removably attached and in most instances one of the other will be used. There can be a variety of elastic members each of which can have different degrees of elasticity, thus employing more or less resistance. When elastic member  42  is in use by it self, it will provide an assist force by pulling end  36  toward point  46  and thereby help rotate or help pivot the torso section  30  at least at the start of a crunch and thereafter depending upon the amount of force available. Depending upon the degree of elasticity chosen for elastic member  42  more or less of such an assist force can be provided.  
         [0019]     When elastic member  44  is in use by itself, and again depending upon the degree of elasticity chosen, it will provide more or less resistance by resisting end  36  being pulled away from point  48  as a user pivots the torso section  30  toward the dotted line position.  
         [0020]     The assist/resist mechanism  40  can also include an elastic member  50  that can be interconnected between the point  48  on the frame  32  and a point  52  on the foot section  38  so that a resist function can be provided for the foot section  50  when moved from the full line position toward the dotted line position. A second elastic member  54  can be interconnected between the point  52  on the foot section  38  and a point  56  on frame  32 , so that an assist function could be provided. In each case, the amount of the resisting force or the amount of the assisting force that is available and being used can be varied depending upon the degree of elasticity chosen for the particular elastic member.  
         [0021]     The elastic members, for example, can be comprised of any elastomeric or elastic material, item, or device, including rubber or combinations of rubber, plastic, or other elastomeric materials or combinations thereof. Such elastic members could, for example, be provided with open holes adjacent their ends which holes can allow the elastic members to be slipped over or otherwise removably connected to the points  36 ,  46 ,  48 ,  52  and  56 , each of which could be a type of connector such as, and including but not limited to a pin, a rod or a capped rod like member, that could be welded, bolted or otherwise fixed to frame  32 . Alternatively, the elastic members could be provided with a releasable or removable fastener affixed at their ends with such a fastener fitting over or being connectable to the pins or rods mentioned above. It should be understood that a variety of removable fastening techniques could be employed that would permit the elastic members to be put on and removed from the pins or connectors on the frame, and the forgoing description should not be viewed as being limited or limiting in any way  
         [0022]     The elastic members could also include springs, including both compression and tension springs, elastic straps, combinations of foam and elastic, or any stretchable material or member where the amount of stretch can be controlled or varied by the material used, by changing the size or dimensions of the material or by the combinations of materials being used. In addition, the elastic members could be flat straps, hollow tubes, sections cut from sheets of elastic material or other shapes and forms of elastic material. These would also be used with the pin or connectors on the frame.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show another arrangement for adjusting the amount of force available for either assisting a bench user or for resisting the pivoting of the torso section  30 . Here frame  32  has been supplied with a plurality of elastic member attachment points, as at  60 - 66  on one side for adding resistance, while points  68 - 72  on the other side of the frame  32  provide attachment points for adding assistance forces.  
         [0024]     Various combinations are now possible. For example, on the resistance side one approach would be to choose one from a plurality of elastic members, for example those shown at  80 - 86 , which could thus provide varying lengths and/or strengths and thereby vary the amount of resistance selected. Alternatively, one elastic member could be used but its point of attachment could changed between points  60 - 66  so that as the point of attachment changed for that given elastic member it will provide its own variations in the amount of available elasticity, more or less depending on the changing distance it must be pulled. As another alternative, two, three or all four elastic members  80 - 86  could be used with the latter thereby providing a maximum amount of resistance force with the arrangement shown.  
         [0025]     On the assistance side, elastic members  90 - 94  will also have three points of attachment,  68 - 72  and thereby provide a plurality of strengths for applying a pulling force on end  36 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment for an abdominal bench  100  where the frame  105  supports a dual-action, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder  102 , that is pivotally interconnected between frame  105 , for example on a suitable cross beam (not shown), and a connector located on the bottom surface of the torso section  103 . All that is required of cylinder  102  is to be able to operate in either an assist mode to push the torso section  103  upwardly, or in a resist mode where it would resist pivoting of the torso section  103  upwardly from the down position shown. In one form, cylinder  102  could be computer controlled to provide what ever effect a user entered into a control system to produce a force in one direction or the other and the amount of force or resistance. In a simplified version, the cylinder could be operated by rotating it clockwise or counter clockwise to thereby set either an assist or resist function, the with amount of force or resistance being dependent upon the number of rotations. The bench  100  includes a foot section  107  and a pair of handles on the torso section  103  to aid in performing crunch exercises. In this embodiment as well, elastic members could be used between the frame  105  and the torso section  103  to provide resistance to pivoting the torso section upwardly. In fact, elastic members could be used in conjunction with the cylinder  102  for resistance purposes. In addition, the foot section  107  could also include a similar cylinder  109  to provide either an assist or resist function to movement of the foot section  107 .  
         [0027]     As another alternative, the torso section  103  could be provided with a spring or a series of springs working in tandem or collectively, that could provide an assist function to help raise the torso section  103 . Depending on the type of spring being used they could be located in place of cylinder  102  or otherwise positioned beneath torso section  103 . Leaf springs, for example, could be located horizontally below the torso section and appear in a series manner as the torso section is raised, or might provide only an initial assistance force at the beginning of movement of the torso movement. Conversely, a coil spring could be used in place of cylinder  102 , but in that position, to provide resistance to the pivotal movement of the torso section  103 .  
         [0028]     In each of these embodiments, the foot section could be an independent section that could operate with but the operation of which was not linked to the torso section. Alternatively, the foot section could be interconnected to or linked to operate in conjunction with the torso section, as shown in the two above referenced &#39;154 and &#39;203 patents, which are commonly owned at the time of this filing and the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.  
         [0029]     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.