Exercise device

The exercise device described herein includes a pair of roll bars in spaced parallel relation thereto and having first and second ends, each roll bar having a curved portion configured to contact a ground surface for performing selected exercises. A handle bar is connected to the roll bars' first ends. A head bar is provided, a portion of which contacts the ground surface, and include a pair of spaced connector arms that extend above the ground surface with ends thereof connected to the roll bars' second ends, forming side rails in spaced parallel relation. The side rails are canted from the roll bars to the head bar at an upward angle relative to the ground surface. A singular material canopy is attached to the head bar and side rails for supporting the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back of a user during selected exercises.

BACKGROUND

Field

The example embodiment in general is directed to an exercise device, more particularly to an exercise device configurable to perform selected exercises in a first abdominal exercise configuration on a ground surface while supporting each of the head, neck, shoulders and upper back, and to perform different exercises in a second push-up/dip configuration on the ground surface.

Related Art

Various prior art systems have been devised as attempts to provide users with abdominal exercise methods. Convention abdominal exercisers include a typical rocker-type device having a frame defining a pair of u-shaped support rails that rock on a ground surface, a headrest or neck pad, often a pair of armrest portions and an upstanding arch-shaped portion (which may also serve to accommodate hand placements) connecting the u-shaped support rails together. The user lies inside the rocker-type device between the u-shaped support rails and rotates or cants forward with the device to exercise the abdominal muscles by performing sit-ups and crunches.

At least one of these known rocker-type abdominal exercisers is also configured to perform exercises other than abdominal exercises, such as push-ups (non-abdominal exercises) and dips. The commercially available AB ROLLER® exercise device by Tristar Products, Inc., is one such conventional device.FIG. 1is perspective view of a prior art exercise device in an abdominal exercise configuration;FIG. 2is a perspective view of the same prior art device in a second push-up/dip configuration.FIGS. 1 and 2are provided to describe the AB ROLLER, which is illustrated in U.S. Des. Pat. No. D659,207 to Brown.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, exercise device1includes a tubular handle bar2which has a pair of leg portions3connected to corresponding upper ends4of a pair of tubular, u-shaped support rails5. In the abdominal exercise configuration ofFIG. 1, curved portions6of the support rails5contact the ground surface20, as do lower straight leg portions7, which lie flush with the ground surface20in an “at rest” position of device1. Lower ends8of the support rails5are connected to corresponding ends9of a head bar10. In the at rest position, the head bar10lies flat on the ground surface20, and includes a crossbar portion11supporting a central neck roll pad12thereon. Head bar10also includes a pair of feet13and a pair of upstanding pegs14which are configured to receive circular weights (not shown) in stacked relation thereon.

For the abdominal exercise configuration, in operation the user lays prone on his/her back between the u-shaped support rails5with head resting on the neck roll pad12, and grasps the handle bar2by placing their hands around the foam pad15. The user's legs are bent at the knee, feet flat on the ground surface20. The user then may perform a sit-up or crunch exercise by rocking back and forth along the curved portions6of the device1upward towards their knees and back to the supine position. To perform push-ups and dips, the user simply flips the device1over so that the two feet13and top of the handle bar2contacts the ground surface20, as shown byFIG. 2. For a push-up, the user leans forward (at an incline) with their feet on the ground and hands grasping the foam pads15provided on the curved portions6of support rails5. The user may then perform incline pushups. To perform a dip, the user grabs the foam pads15on the support rails5so that their trunk is between the rails5and above the handle2, and their legs extended straight and outward from the handle2with their feet or heels on the ground surface20.

An issue with the AB ROLLER design is that there is insufficient support for the entire upper torso of the user for abdominal exercise; only part of the head and neck of the user is actually supported by the neck pad12on head bar10. The limits of employing a neck pad only (and hence failing to support the shoulders and upper back) could potentially cause unwanted strain or pain to neck, shoulder and/or back muscles as the user begins initiating an upward and forward crunch/sit-up movement. For example, since the neck pad12supports only the neck and part of the lower rear of the head, when the user initiates an upward sit-up or crunch movement, the user's head and neck bend forward under strain, out of alignment with the shoulders and back and thus moving slightly ahead of the shoulders and back. This causes the user's chin to dip down toward the chest, placing unnecessary strain on the neck. This in turn can lead to injury.

SUMMARY

An example embodiment is directed to an exercise device. The device includes a pair of roll bars in spaced parallel relation to one another, each roll bar having first and second ends and a curved portion configured to contact a ground surface for performing selected exercises, a handle bar connected to the roll bars' first ends, and a head bar, a portion of which is configured to contact the ground surface, the head bar including a pair of spaced arms that extend above the ground surface and having ends connected to the roll bars' second ends to form a pair of side rails in spaced parallel relation. The side rails are canted from the roll bars to the head bar so as to be at an upward angle relative to the ground surface. The device further includes a singular material canopy attached to the head bar and side rails for supporting the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back of a user during selected exercises.

Another example embodiment is directed to an exercise device configurable in a first position on a ground surface to perform abdominal exercises and in a second position on the ground surface to perform push-ups and dips. The device includes a pair of roll bars in spaced parallel relation to one another, each roll bar of singular construction and including an integral upper straight portion, curved portion configured to contact the ground surface with the device in the first position, and lower straight portion that extends rearward from the curved portion at an upward inclined angle relative to the ground surface. The device further includes a handle bar of singular construction extending upward from the ground surface with the device in the first position and having an upper and lower end, with a horizontal tubular portion for receiving hand placements of a user provided at the upper end, the horizontal tubular portion curving downward at either end to form a pair of integral, straight tubular legs in spaced parallel relation to one another, a terminating end of each straight leg at the lower end of the handle bar connected to a corresponding upper straight portion of a roll bar. The device further includes a head bar of singular construction arranged rearward of the handle bar and roll bars, the head bar including a horizontal central tubular portion that contacts the ground surface with the device in the first position and which turns upward at each end to form two integral connector arms in spaced parallel relation to one another, each connector arm including a first upstanding straight portion extending in a direction toward the handle bar at an upward angle to the ground surface, a curved portion at an apex of each connector arm, and a second straight portion extending from the curved portion at a downward angle relative to the ground surface so as to be connected to a corresponding upwardly angled lower straight portion of a roll bar, the connected lower straight portions of the roll bars and second straight portions of the connector arms forming a pair of straight side rails in spaced parallel relation that are inclined upward from the curved portions of the roll bars to the curved portions of the connector arms of the head bar with the device in the first position. The device further includes a material canopy for supporting the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back of a user during an abdominal exercise movement with the device in the first position, the canopy having an upper end attached to the horizontal central tubular portion of the head bar, the canopy extending across the device between the side rails and having a lower end that terminates at the curved portions of the roll bars. With the device in the first position, the user's head, neck, shoulders, and upper back is in alignment and fully supported by the canopy as the user grasps the handle bar to initiate an abdominal exercise movement. When configured in a second position, where the device has been rotated along the ground surface so that the curved portions of the roll bars extend upward to face away from the ground surface for the user to employ as hand placements for push-up and dip exercises, the handle bar and head bar serve as contact points for the device on the ground surface.

Another example embodiment is directed to an exercise device which includes a pair of roll bars in spaced parallel relation to one another and having first and second ends, each roll bar having a curved portion configured to contact a ground surface to perform selected exercises, a handle bar connected to the roll bars' first ends, a head bar, a portion of which contacts the ground surface, the head bar including a pair of spaced arms that extend above the ground surface with ends connected to the second ends of the roll bars, forming a pair of side rails in spaced parallel relation, the side rails canted from the roll bars to the head bar at an upward angle relative to the ground surface, and a material canopy attached to the head bar and side rails for supporting the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back of a user during selected exercises.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The example embodiment hereafter describes an exercise device configurable to perform selected exercises in a first abdominal exercise configuration on a ground surface while supporting each of the head, neck, shoulders and upper back during the exercise, and to perform different exercises with the device in a second push-up/dip configuration on the ground surface.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of an exercise device in an abdominal exercise configuration, in accordance with an example embodiment;FIG. 4is a front view of the device shown inFIG. 3;FIG. 5is a right-side view of the device ofFIG. 3in a first abdominal exercise configuration, the left-side view being a mirror image of the right-side view; andFIG. 6is a right-side view of the device ofFIG. 3as rotated into a second push-up/dip exercise configuration, the left-side view being a mirror image of the right-side view. Referring toFIGS. 3-6, an exercise device100is described and includes a pair of tubular roll bars110in spaced parallel relation to one another. Each roll bar110has a first end111, a second end112(obscured inFIGS. 3-6by a material canopy140) and a curved portion114configured to contact a ground surface160for performing selected exercises.

Device100includes a tubular handle bar120. Handle bar120includes a horizontal tubular portion121which turns downward at its ends to form integral straight leg portions122in equal spaced relation to one another, which in turn are connected to an upper straight portion113of a corresponding roll bar110at its first end111thereof. Handle bar120is provided for hand placements by the user for performing abdominal exercises with the device100in a first exercise position; the horizontal portion121at its upper end may include grips125thereon (foam, rubber, plastic, etc.) for hand placements.

Device100further includes a tubular head bar130that is positioned rearward of the roll bars110and handle bar120. As can be seen inFIG. 3, a portion (such as a horizontal tubular central portion131) of the head bar130is configured to contact the ground surface160. The head bar130has a pair of spaced connector arms132integral with the horizontal tubular central portion131and which extend above the ground surface160. The connector arms132include ends (obscured by a canopy140) that are connected to the second ends112(obscured by canopy140) of the roll bars110so as to collectively form a pair of side rails in spaced parallel relation, shown generally by element135. The side rails135are canted from the curved portions114of the roll bars110to the head bar130so as to be at an upward angle relative to the ground surface160.

The device100further includes the singular material canopy140of the described figures. Canopy140is attached at an upper end141thereof to the head bar130and includes sides143secured to side rails135for supporting the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back of a user during selected exercises. The length of canopy140terminates at a lower end142that extends between the side rails135just rearward of the curved portions114of the roll bars110.

With the device100in a first exercise position on the ground surface160such as shown inFIGS. 3-5, selected exercises performed using device100can include an abdominal exercise such as a sit-up or crunch type exercise. In the first position, the curved portions114of the roll bars110and the horizontal tubular central portion131of the head bar130serve as contact points with the ground surface160. Prior to the start of an abdominal exercise movement, the user's head, neck, shoulders, and upper back are initially elevated from the ground surface160at an angle (due to the construction of head bar130with its connector arms132) and fully supported by the width and length of canopy140; these body parts are maintained in alignment and the stresses imparted thereby are evenly distributed across canopy140so that the user's upper body moves in unison during an exercise revolution. This is so that the spine is in proper alignment during abdominal exercise, preventing undue stress to be placed on the neck, shoulders and/or upper back.

Referring toFIG. 5, an imaginary line175is shown that extends between an axis along which the connecting arms132of the head bar130are oriented and the top portion of the handle bar120; this is the first position of the device100on ground surface160for performing abdominal exercises. Obtaining this geometry is critical to ensuring that the device100is stable and sits flat on the ground surface160when in the first position for exercise.

The exercise device100can be placed in a second position by a user for performing different exercises, as shown inFIG. 6. Here, device100has been rotated from its first position into a second exercise position, such that the horizontal tubular portion121of the now inverted handle bar120serves as one contact point with the ground surface160, and portions of a head bar130serve as the other contact point with the ground surface160. The curved portions114of the roll bars110are now extended upward and away from the ground surface160; these serve as hand placements for the user to perform push-up and dip exercises using device100. The curved portions114may include grips116thereon for hand placement to perform a push-up or dip as well as providing traction for floor sit ups.

FIGS. 5 and 6more clearly illustrate the lower straight portion115of each roll bar110that is integral with its curved portion114and connected at the second end112of the roll bar110to a corresponding connector arm132of the head bar130. With the device100in the first position for performing abdominal exercises as shown in the side view ofFIG. 5, the side rail135formed by the connection of the lower straight portion115of the roll bar110to the connector arm132can be clearly seen; these parallel side rails135rise from the curved portions114of the roll bars110toward the head bar130so as to be at an inclined upward angle relative to the ground surface160. This inclination is set, and the stability of device100in the second exercise position is ensured, by determining an angle (see element180inFIG. 6) taken from the connector arm132of the head bar130to the lower straight portion115of the roll bar110. As an example, it has been determined that an angle180of about 75° to 105° enables the desired inclination of the side rail135to be achieved, while ensuring a stable device100on the ground surface160; e.g., to ensure handle bar120and portions of the head bar130(tubular central portion131and portions of the connector arms132) rest evenly on the ground surface160when the device100is rotated into the second position for performing push-up and dip exercises, as shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 7is an exploded-parts view of the device ofFIG. 3to more clearly illustrate constituent components thereof. Each roll bar110comprises an integral upper straight portion113, the curved portion114, and a lower straight portion115that extends rearward from the curved portion114at an upward inclined angle relative to the ground surface160(i.e., with device100configured on the ground surface160in the first exercise position for abdominal exercise movements). As shown, handle bar110is comprised of the horizontal tubular portion121at its upper end for receiving hand placements of a user. The horizontal tubular portion121curves downward at either end to form a pair of integral, straight tubular legs122in spaced parallel relation to one another, a terminating end of each straight leg122at the lower end of the handle bar120connected to a corresponding upper straight portion113of a roll bar110at its first end111by suitable fasteners117.

Optionally, handle bar120can include a pair of foam rubber grips125for accommodating hand placements of the user when employing device100in the first exercise position for abdominal exercise. In an example, grips125may encircle portions of steel tubing of the handle bar120on both the central tubular portion121and straight tubular legs122, as shown inFIG. 7. Optionally, the curved portions114of the roll bars110may include similar foam, plastic, or rubber grips116. Grips116are for accommodating hand placements when the device100is arranged in the second push-up/dip configuration.

The head bar130is comprised of the horizontal central tubular portion131that contacts the ground surface160with the device100in the first exercise position. Central tubular portion131turns upward at each end to form the two integral connector arms132in spaced parallel relation to one another. Each connector arm132is further comprised of three integral portions: a first upstanding straight portion133extending toward the direction of the handle bar120at an upward angle relative to the ground surface160, a curved portion134at an apex of each connector arm132and extending from its first upstanding straight portion133, and a second straight portion136extending from the curved portion134at a downward angle relative to the ground surface so as to be connected to the second end112of a roll bar110, more specifically to be connected to a corresponding lower straight portion115of a roll bar110by a suitable fastener127.

In an example, each of the roll bars110, handle bar120, and head bar130may be comprised of steel tubing, with one or more portions of the tubing having a flattened profile. The steel tubing may be formed through a tube bending process with a press. Each radius bend in a piece of tubing may be formed by a custom bend die. Connections between adjacent tubular ends of these constituent parts of device100may be effected by sizing the respective facing ends so as to accommodate a friction or interference fit (i.e., the end of one tubing part having a diameter slightly smaller than the facing end of the other tubing part) with the connected ends secured by fasteners117,127, as shown.

The length of tubing encompassing the connected second ends112of the roll bars110(e.g., the lower straight portions115) and the second straight portions136of the connector arms132are what collectively comprise the pair of straight side rails135that are inclined upward relative to the ground surface160with the device100in the first exercise position. As shown best inFIG. 3, these straight side rails135generally extend between the curved portions114of the roll bars110to terminate at the curved portions134arranged at the apexes of the connector arms132which form part of head bar130.

The canopy140may be formed of a resilient material such as a polyester mesh material. The canopy140includes a first upper end141connected to the horizontal central tubular portion131of the head bar130, is stretched over the curved portions134of the connector arms132and includes sides143which extend along the length of the side rails135(second straight portions136of the connector arms132and the lower straight portions115of the roll bars110) and connected thereto, the canopy140terminating at a lower end142which extends between the lower straight portions115of the roll bars just rearward of the curved portions114of the roll bars110. This material canopy140thus has a surface area that fully supports the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back of the user.

FIG. 8illustrates a crunch exercise that may be performed using the exercise device in accordance with the example embodiment;FIG. 9a push-up exercise, andFIG. 10a dip exercise that may be performed using the exercise device in accordance with the example embodiment. As shown inFIG. 8, in the first exercise position, the curved portions114of the roll bars110contact the ground surface160(as well as the tubular central portion131of the head bar130(see at rest state of device100inFIG. 3) for initiating an abdominal exercise movement using device100. While performing a crunch, in which a user150places his hands on the handle bar120, maintains knees bent and feet placed firmly on the ground, as the user150rocks back and forth on the ground surface160via the curved portions114of the roll bars110, the canopy140fully supports the user150's head, neck, shoulders and upper back during the upward and/or rearward movement. The canopy140thus facilitates maintaining the alignment of his spine throughout the exercise movement so as not to unduly stress muscles in the neck, shoulders or upper back. This is not possible with the AB ROLLER, as only the lower part of the head and neck is supported; there is no support for the shoulders and upper back.

InFIGS. 9 and 10(showing the second push-up/dip configuration of device100) the first upstanding portions133of the connector arms132and the tubular central portion131of the head bar130serve as a collective contact point as they lie flush to the ground surface160. The horizontal tubular portion121of handle bar120serves as the other contact point to ground surface160with the device100in the second exercise position. The user150grasps the grips116on the curved portions114of the roll bars110to either perform an inclined push-up or dip.

The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the following claims.