ABDOMINAL TRACK EXERCISE DEVICE

An abdominal exercise device includes a straight, round track having a front end and a back end, and a sliding base movable along the track between the front end and the back end. The sliding base includes a housing disposed around the track, and a plurality of sheaves disposed in the housing and rotatably attached to the housing and engagable with the track to roll along the track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Abdominal exercise devices are described herein, with reference to examples and exemplary embodiments. Specific terminology is employed in describing examples and exemplary embodiments. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

As shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, the abdominal exercise device1of the present invention includes a track10and a sliding base30. Track10is a straight, round track upon which sliding base30moves back and forth.

Track10is a round bar or tube-shaped structure having front end and back end12and14on its length. Track10is preferably made from a durable material, e.g., metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, and has a diameter and a thickness that can withstand extensive and repeated applications of force without deformation or damage. In one embodiment, the diameter of track10is 22 mm. Track10may be hollow, which would result in a device1that is light and may be easily moved or carried by a user.

In an aspect of the present invention, track10may have legs16fixedly attached to or near front end and back end12and14. Legs16may be disposed substantially crosswise or orthogonal with respect to the length of track10. Legs16support and space straight round track10off the ground or other surface on which device1rests. Legs16may be formed from a durable material, e.g., metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, similar to the material used to form track10.

Legs16may further include feet18, which provide the points of contact between device1and the ground. Feet18may include a tactile material such as rubber to prevent slippage of device1along the ground during use.

In another aspect of the present invention, feet18may include rotatable pulley wheels20and22projecting a length upwardly from feet18away from the ground or surface on which device1rests. Rotatable pulley wheels20and22may be rotatably attached to feet18such as by screws or a metal post. In one example, rotatable pulley wheels20and22have the form of small sheaves. The length of rotatable pulley wheels20and22is sufficient to allow stretchable O-ring bands24and26to be supported by and stretched between rotatable pulley wheels20and22on feet18at either or both of the front end and the back end12and14of track10. The O-ring bands work with the rotatable pulley wheels to provide a desired level of resistance to a user using device1.

In an aspect of the present invention, as shown inFIGS. 4 through 7, sliding base30includes a housing32with side portions34, bottom portion36, and front and back ends38and40, respectively. Housing32may be constructed of any suitable durable material, e.g., hard plastic. In one embodiment, housing32is 45 mm in diameter and118mm in length.

Sliding base30houses two or more sheaves42rotatably attached to side portions34of housing22by axles44disposed through the centers of sheaves42. Sliding base30may include holes46at its front and back ends38and40through which track10may be inserted, allowing sliding base30to move back and forth along track10between front end and back end12and14.

Sheaves42of sliding base30are drums or pulley-shaped wheels having a groove48between two flanges50around their circumferences. Grove48is shaped and sized to rest upon and roll along track10. Sheaves42may be formed from a durable material that can withstand extensive and repeated applications of force without deformation or damage, e.g., hard rubber or nylon. In one embodiment, a lubricant such as oil or grease (not shown) may be placed on track10to decrease friction between sheaves42and track10and provide easier movement of sheaves42along track10. Sheaves42permit limited movement along track10in a single back and forth direction, preventing sloppy movements by a user that could result in ineffective or harmful exercising.

In another aspect of the present invention, sliding base30further includes a handle structure52, which may further include handle grips54and forearm rests56. Handle structure52is shaped so that a user may comfortably grasp handle grips54and place his or her forearms on forearm rests56during use of device1. Handle structure52may be constructed of any durable material that can withstand extensive and repeated applications of force without deformation or damage, e.g., metal or hard plastic. Handle grips54and forearms rests56may further include additional materials to enhance the comfort of the user such as a plastic, rubber or fabric surfaces and pads. Handle structure52is preferably designed ergonomically to enhance the comfort of the user and to maximize the exercise value of device1for the user.

In another aspect of the invention, as shown inFIG. 5, handle structure52may be fixedly attached to sliding base30, in which case sliding base30is pivotable around track10as sliding base30moves back and forth along track10. Sliding base30may pivot 360 degrees around track10. Alternatively or in addition, handle structure52may be fixedly yet pivotally attached to sliding base30, allowing for rotatable or pivotable movement of handle structure52with respect to sliding base30, i.e., tilting and turning in multiple directions, while still permitting sliding base30to pivot around track10as sliding base30moves back and forth along track10. Such pivotable movement of sliding base30around track10and rotatable or pivotable movement of handle structure52with respect to sliding base30allows the user to change the position of his or her body with respect to device1in use while still moving sliding base30back and forth along track10.

In another aspect of the invention, bottom portion36of sliding base30may include two rotatable pulley wheels58and60projecting a length downwardly toward the ground or other surface on which device1rests. Rotatable pulley wheels58and60may be rotatably attached to bottom portion36such as by screws or metal posts. In one example, rotatable pulley wheels58and60have the form of small sheaves. Rotatable pulley wheels58and60are disposed near the front and back ends38and40, respectively, of sliding base30. The length of rotatable pulley wheels58and60is sufficient to allow stretchable O-ring bands24and26disposed between rotatable pulley wheels20and22on feet18to be further supported by and securely stretched between rotatable pulley wheels58and60, respectively.

As shown inFIGS. 8A through 8D, stretchable O-ring bands24and26permit sliding base30to work together with either or both ends12and14of track10to create a desired amount of resistance when sliding base30moves back and forth along track10. O-ring bands24and26a preferably formed from a flexible, elastic material, e.g., rubber.

In use, device1may be placed on the ground or a flat surface, such that track10stably rests on feet18of legs16. Referring toFIGS. 8A through 8D, resistive O-ring bands24and26may be securely stretched around rotatable pulley wheels58and60and rotatable pulley wheels20and22on feet18with respect to front and rear portions38and40of sliding base30to create the user's desired resistance for using device1. Knee pads80may be placed on the ground near the back end14of track10at a comfortable position for the user. The sliding base30may be initially placed near the back end14of track10.

As shown inFIG. 9, the user rests his or her knees on knee pads80and leans over track10to grab handles54with both hands and rests both forearms on forearm rests56. Referring toFIGS. 10A through 10D, the user then moves sliding base30forward and then backward, repetitively, along track10, pushing and pulling against the resistance created by O-ring bands24and26. This forward and backward motion causes the user's abdominal muscles to be extended and contracted to perform an abdominal exercise, particularly targeting the user's upper and oblique muscles. The user's motion during the exercise may be generally limited to a horizontal plane parallel to the ground or flat surface on which device1is placed. Alternatively, the user may twist or turn his or her body to the right or left during forward movements, backward movements, or both, which twisting is enabled by the pivotable movement of sliding base30around track10, the pivotable and rotatable movement of handle structure52with respect to sliding base30, or both.

Stretchable O-ring bands24and26create resistance for either or both of the forward and backward motions of device1in use.0-ring bands24and26are easily replaceable by the user so that the user may select0-ring bands that provide a desired level of resistance upon moving sliding back30forward and backward along track10. For example, the user can increase or decrease the tension created by O-ring bands24and26by changing the O-ring bands between those having light, medium and hard tension levels.

In addition, the embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced to them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of difficult illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other within the scope of this disclosure.