Multi-purpose exercise machine

The present invention relates to a complete abdominal muscle exercise and workout machine for use by an individual to strengthen and develop the abdominal muscles. The machine is of light-weight and simple (but sturdy) construction, is of compact and portable design, and may be easily assembled into alternative forms for the performance and practice of a wide variety of hanging exercises, lying exercises and up and down exercises. The machine may be easily disassembled for storage and transportation purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to physical exercise machines. More 
particularly, the invention concerns physical exercise machines and 
apparatus designed and operated for the development of abdominal muscles 
through a variety of exercise routines. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The skeletal-muscular system of the human body consists of the 206 bones 
and over 650 muscles that maintain the skeletal structure, protect and 
support the internal organs, and help the body move. During recent years a 
great deal of interest has been shown in the exercise of important body 
muscles for the development of specific strengths and physical abilities 
and for the development of desired body shapes and proportions. Particular 
attention has been devoted to the development of the chest muscles 
(pectoralis major), back muscles (trapezius), upper arm muscles (biceps 
and triceps), principal upper leg muscles (quadriceps femoris) and stomach 
muscles (rectus abdominus) through weight lift and force application and 
resistance exercise programs and machines. Amateur and professional 
athletes and body builders, both male and female alike, spend many hours 
per week in such exercise programs utilizing a broad range of apparatus 
from simple barbells to complex, sophisticated and expensive exercise 
machines. Although many of the complex and expensive body building 
exercise machines provide apparatus means for addressing and accomplishing 
stomach or abdominal exercises, the availability of such machines and 
there use is normally restricted to health clubs and commercially operated 
gyms. No simple and inexpensive arrangement of equipment has been provided 
for the complete development of stomach muscles outside of the health club 
or commercial gym environment, i.e., for individual home use. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a 
multi-purpose exercise machine of simple construction for complete 
development of abdominal muscles. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an exercise machine which 
is capable of being used by men and women of varying body size and 
structure in a safe and reliable manner to perform a wide variety of 
exercises to build up stomach muscles. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a low cost, 
multi-purpose stomach muscle exercise machine of light-weight and simple 
construction and which is of compact and portable design. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide an exercise 
machine through which a wide variety of abdominal muscle exercises may be 
practiced at home or elsewhere outside of commercial gym or health club 
facilities and which is of light-weight construct, is portable, is easily 
assembled at the point of use and may be stored upon disassembly in a 
minimum of space. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be 
apparent from the following summary and detailed description of the 
invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a complete abdominal muscle exercise and 
workout machine for use by an individual (man, woman or child, amateur or 
professional athlete or body builder) to strengthen and develop the 
abdominal muscles. The machine is of light-weight and simple (but sturdy) 
construction, is of compact and portable design, and may be easily 
assembled for use and disassembled for storage and transport purposes. The 
machine has as its principal structural assembly a sturdy and rigid 
framework comprised of: (a) two parallel elongated vertical legs (tubular 
metallic bars having a square cross-section); and (b) three 
laterally-extending crossbars (right-angle metallic members) which are 
bolted at their ends (through one of their legs) to the parallel vertical 
legs at spaced intervals. The upper (head-end) crossbar and the 
intermediate crossbar each include a centrally positioned notch on the 
angle leg bolted to the parallel vertical legs and the intermediate 
crossbar and lower crossbar each include a centrally positioned hook hole 
on the angle leg which projects outwardly from the parallel vertical legs. 
An elongated padded backboard member is removably affixed to the front side 
of the framework assembly by backboard screws which are positioned in the 
notches of the upper and intermediate crossbars when the abdominal muscle 
exercise machine of the invention is to be utilized to perform exercises 
including hanging leg raises, hanging knee raises and hanging side raises. 
"L" shaped arm bars, of metallic tube structure (square cross-section), 
bearing arm pads along the outer surface of the long leg of the "L" bars, 
are removably positioned at the upper ends of the elongated legs of the 
framework assembly by insertion of the short legs of the "L" bars into the 
legs of the framework assembly. With this arrangement, the long legs of 
the "L" shaped arm bars extend forwardly from the framework assembly. A 
hook is provided in the upper end portion of the backboard, on the 
backside thereof, whereby the exercise machine assembly (as described 
above) may be affixed to a wall or other support means to maintain the 
machine in a stable upright position during the performance of hanging 
exercises by a person using the machine. 
The abdominal muscle exercise machine assembly of the invention, as 
described above, may be readily altered so that the padded backboard 
member of the assembly resides on the backside of the framework structure 
and acts as a padded platform. Thereafter, when the exercise machine is 
placed on a floor surface (or the ground) with the arm bars projecting 
downwardly into contact with the floor or ground, the machine assumes an 
inclined orientation. In such inclined orientation, the user of the 
machine may perform a variety of lying exercises (leg raises and knee 
raises) and up and down exercises (twisting incline sit-ups, Roman chair 
style sit-ups and hyperextension side-ups) to develop and strengthen the 
users abdominal muscles. Finally, with the padded backboard member of the 
assembly on the backside of the framework structure, and with the arm bars 
removed from the tubular legs of the framework, the resulting assembly 
when positioned in complete horizontal orientation with respect to the 
floor or ground (with the backboard acting as a padded platform) may be 
used to perform additional stomach muscle development exercises such as 
quarter sit-ups. 
In the inclined and horizontal orientations of the exercise machine of the 
invention the padded backboard, acting as a padded platform, may assume 
two different positions on the framework assembly via placement of the 
backboard hook into either the hook hole in the lower crossbar or into the 
hook hole of the intermediate crossbar. The backboard is prevented from 
moving with respect to the framework assembly because of the hook 
placement in a hook hole of the intermediate or lower crossbar and through 
a backboard block which engages the upper surface of the projecting angle 
leg of the upper or intermediate crossbar, respectively. 
An appropriate abdominal muscle strengthening and development program, 
using the exercise machine of the present invention, includes a regimen of 
the variety the exercises in sets of repeats as a beginner, intermediate 
and advanced user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
A preferred embodiment of the abdominal muscle exercise machine of the 
invention (for use in the performance of a series of hanging exercises) is 
shown in a perspective view in FIG. 1 of the drawing sheets. The machine, 
generally indicated by the numeral 10, has as its principal structural 
assembly a sturdy and rigid framework comprised of: (a) two parallel 
elongated vertical leg members 12 and 14; and (b) three 
laterally-extending crossbars 16, 18 and 20 which are bolted at their ends 
to the parallel vertical leg members. The leg members 12 and 14 are 
preferably formed from tubular metallic bars having a square 
cross-section. The leg members are provided at their respective lower ends 
with inserted finishing plugs or floor caps 12a and 14a and at their 
respective upper ends with inserted end sleeves or arm connector members 
12b and 14b. The crossbars 16, 18 and 20 are preferably formed from 
right-angled metallic members and are positioned at spaced intervals along 
the leg members 12 and 14. Thus, the upper or head-end crossbar 16 is 
bolted to the leg members 12 and 14 respectively by bolts 12c and 14c with 
accompanying nuts 12d and 14d. The lower or foot end crossbar 18 is also 
bolted to the leg members 12 and 14 respectively by bolts 12c and 14c and 
accompanying nuts 12d and 14d. Finally, the intermediate crossbar 20 is 
bolted to the leg members 12 and 14 by a like combination of bolts and 
nuts. The upper crossbar 16 and the intermediate crossbar 20 each include 
a centrally positioned notch 16a and 20a, respectively, on the angle leg 
bolted to the parallel vertical legs 12 and 14, and the intermediate 
crossbar 20 and the lower crossbar 18 each include a centrally positioned 
hook hole 20b and 18b, respectively, on the angle leg which projects 
outwardly from the parallel vertical legs 12 and 14. The purpose and 
function of such notches and hook holes in the crossbars will be described 
hereinafter. 
An elongated padded backboard member 22 is removably affixed to the front 
side of the framework assembly by means described hereinafter. The 
backboard member 22 is comprised of a rigid board member 22a which bears 
on its front side padding material (not shown but consisting of foam 
plastic or foam rubber material) covered by an impervious sheet fabric 
material or sheet plastic material 22b which is affixed to the rear side 
of board member 22a by a peripheral line of staples 22c or other 
appropriate fastener means. The means for removably affixing the backboard 
22 to the front side of the framework assembly comprises bolts 22d and 22e 
which respectively are positioned in the notches 16a and 20a of the 
crossbars 16 and 20. These bolts are threaded into nut inserts (not 
visible) which are appropriately affixed into the backside of board member 
22a of the backboard 22. 
"L" shaped are members 24 and 26 of metallic tube structure (square 
cross-section) are removably positionable in the upper ends of the 
elongated legs 12 and 14 (respectively) of the framework assembly of the 
exercise machine 10 of the invention. The "L" shaped arm members 24 and 26 
include (respectively) arm caps or plugs 24a and 26a at the ends of the 
long legs or arm support portions 24b and 26b of such members. The short 
legs 24c and 26c of the arm members are insertable into the elongated legs 
12 and 14 of the framework assembly to yield the arm members positionable 
as described hereinafter. The arm support portions 24b and 26b of the arm 
members 24 and 26 bear arm pads 28 and 30 (respectively) along the 
outer/upper surface of such arm support portions. The arm pads 28 and 30 
are affixed to the associated arm support portions of arm members 24 and 
26 (respectively) via bolts 28a and 30a which extend through such arm 
support portions and receive locking nuts 28b and 30b. Only bolts 30a and 
nuts 30b are visible in FIG. 1. 
A hook member 32 is provided on the backside of the backboard 22 proximate 
the upper end thereof. The hook member 32 is designed and positioned such 
that it properly interacts with a threaded hook holder 32a. The hook 
holder 32a is screwed into a supporting wall (or other available support 
means) to hold the abdominal muscle exercise machine of the invention in 
an upright operating position for the practice of a regimen of varying 
hanging exercises by a person using the machine. The backboard 22 is also 
provided with a backboard block 34 affixed to the backboard proximate the 
middle thereof. The function of the backboard block 34 will become 
apparent with the description of the alternative form of the abdominal 
muscle exercise machine of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 3. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing sheets there is shown in a 
perspective elevation view the abdominal exercise machine 10 in 
disassembled and inoperative compact orientation ready for easy transport 
or storage in a minimum of storage space. In such orientation the 
backboard 22 has been remounted to the frame assembly in a reverse and 
lower position and the "L" shaped arm members 24 and 26 have been removed 
and re-inserted into the upper end of the elongated vertical legs of the 
frame assembly with the arm support portions 24b and 26b (including their 
respective arm pads 28 and 30) of the arm members crossed over 
one-another. It will be noted that in this transport and/or storage 
orientation the bolt 22d now rests in notch 20a of the intermediate 
crossbar 20 and the bolt 22e now rests in notch 16a of the upper crossbar 
16. 
In FIG. 3 there is shown in a side elevation view an alternative and 
operative form of the abdominal muscle exercise machine 10 of the 
invention. In such view the padded backboard 22 has been mounted to the 
backside of the frame assembly and the framework assembly, with the "L" 
shaped arm members 24 and 26 inserted into the upper ends of the elongated 
legs 12 and 14 of the framework assembly, has been tilted to the ground or 
floor so that the arm support portions 24b and 26b of the arm members 
(with their respective arm pads 28 and 30) support the framework assembly 
of the exercise machine 10 and in an inclined position. In such 
orientation the padded backboard 22 acts as an inclined padded body 
support platform with the machine ready for use in the performance of a 
series of lying exercises (including leg raises and knee raises) to 
further strengthen and develop the abdominal muscles of the exercising 
user of the machine. As shown in FIG. 3 the backboard 22 has been placed 
in reverse orientation with respect to the machine's framework assembly 
(on the backside thereof). The backboard (now positioned to act as a body 
support platform) is positioned upwardly on the framework assembly and 
extends well beyond the arm members 24 and 26. It is affixed to the 
framework assembly by placement of the hook member 32 of the backboard 
into the hook hole 20b of the intermediate crossbar 20 and thereafter 
snapping the backboard block 34 into abutting fitment against the upper 
surface of the outwardly projecting angle leg of the upper crossbar 16. In 
performing lying exercises on the machine 10 in its alternative form as 
shown in FIG. 3 the center of body weight of the exercising user is 
located over the platform (backboard 22) and above the location of the 
upper crossbar 16 whereby the platform is precluded from rotating about 
the upper crossbar by the hook member 32 in its placement position in hook 
hole 20b of the intermediate crossbar 20. Further, the platform is 
precluded from shifting on the framework assembly by the hook member 32 
and the backboard block 34. 
It should be noted that the position of the body support platform (padded 
backboard 22) on the framework assembly of the abdominal muscle exercise 
machine 10 (in the machine's tilted orientation as illustrated in FIG. 3) 
may be shifted downwardly on the framework assembly. Thus, the platform 
may be placed so that the hook member 32 engages the hook hole 18b in the 
lower crossbar 18 and so that the backboard block 34 is snapped into 
abutting fitment against the upper surface of the outwardly projecting 
angle leg of the intermediate crossbar 20. When the padded platform 
(backboard 22) is so placed the exercise machine in its tilted orientation 
(with inclined platform) may be used in the performance of a series of up 
and down exercises (including incline sit-ups, Roman chair sit-ups and 
hyperextension side-ups) to further develop and strengthen the users 
abdominal muscles. 
To further illustrate the versatility of the abdominal muscle exercise 
machine and apparatus of the present invention there is shown in FIGS. 4, 
5 and 6 perspective views of the alternative forms of the apparatus in use 
by an exercising person performing a typical exercise adaptable to each 
apparatus form. Thus, in FIG. 4 there is illustrated in a front 
perspective view the exercise machine 10 of the invention in its vertical 
orientation and form in use by an exercising person during the performance 
of hanging leg raises. It is to be noted that a supporting wall or other 
machine support means (to which the backboard hook member is affixed to 
maintain the machine in steady vertical position) is not illustrated in 
such figure. 
In FIG. 5 there is illustrated, in a side perspective view, the alternative 
form of the exercise machine 10 of the invention in inclined orientation 
with the backboard 22 mounted to the backside of the machine framework 
assembly and acting as a lower body support platform. The platform is 
positioned downwardly on the framework assembly and the exercising person 
is shown during the performance of an incline sit-up with the exerciser's 
lower leg members positioned along the side of the platform inside of the 
elongated leg members 12 and 14 and with his feet hooked under the lower 
crossbar 18. 
In FIG. 6 there is illustrated, in a side perspective view, the alternative 
form of the exercise machine 10 in inclined orientation with the backboard 
22 mounted to the backside of the machine framework assembly and acting as 
an upper body support platform. The platform is positioned upwardly on the 
framework assembly (as shown in FIG. 3) and the exercising person is shown 
during the performance of a lying leg raise with the exerciser's upper 
body structure positioned on the platform. The exerciser is precluded from 
sliding down the inclined platform during the exercise regime by gripping 
the upper edge portion of the platform with his hands. 
It should be understood that, although not illustrated, additional 
abdominal muscle exercises may be performed utilizing the apparatus of the 
invention in further configurations. For example, the "L" shaped arm 
members 24 and 26 may be removed from insertion into the upper ends of the 
elongated legs 12 and 14 of the framework assembly and the framework 
assembly with the padded backboard 22 positioned as shown in FIG. 5 may be 
placed on the ground or a floor to provide a horizontal padded platform 
upon which stomach muscle exercises, including quarter sit-ups, may be 
performed with comfort and support to the exerciser's back. 
While the invention has been described in connection with particular 
structural form embodiments for the performance of a wide range and type 
of abdominal muscle development and strengthening exercises, many 
modifications of the apparatus will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art. Accordingly, such modifications are to be included within the spirit 
and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.