# Patent

## Title
Abdomen exercise machine

## Abstract

An exercise machine applicable for strengthening users abdominal muscles is described. The machine can include a track frame and a support frame adjustably coupled to the track frame. The track frame can include parallel rails to provide gliding support for movement along the parallel rails. Two sliding assembly may be movably mounted on separate pairs of the parallel rails respectively. Each sliding assembly may be configurable to move together or separately along the parallel rails. Two seat pads may be adjustably secured to the two sliding assembly respectively. Each seat pad may be rotationally adjustable to change angular relationship between the seat pad's longitudinal direction and movement direction along the parallel rails.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/540,447 filed Jul. 2, 2012, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/750,868 filed on Jan. 25, 2013, the disclosures of which are considered part of and are incorporated by reference in the disclosure of this application.


FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to physical training machines, and in particular, exercise machines structured for exercising the abdominal muscles of a user.
BACKGROUND
With the growing awareness of health problems caused by lack of exercise, popularity of exercising machines, such as stationary bicycles, treadmills, rowing machines, step climbing machines, etc., has been continuously increasing. Typically, these machines are designed to focus movements of specific parts of the body. For example, abdominal machines may be structured to induce body exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles. Existing abdominal machines, however, are usually designed based on variations of sit-ups exercises. Effective abdominal exercises may require a combination of movements involving muscles of different parts of the body including the waist, legs, etc. Although there are many exercising machines practical for exercising different parts of the body, these multipurpose exercising machines are usually heavy and expensive devices.
Therefore, traditional abdomen machines are not versatile, effective and economic.
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
An exercise machine applicable for strengthening a user's abdominal muscles can include a track frame having one or more parallel rails to provide gliding support for movement along the parallel rails. The parallel rails can have a higher end and a lower end, the higher end elevated at a height above the lower end for steepness of the movement. A support frame can be adjustably coupled to the track frame at the lower end and the higher end to elevate the parallel rails. Two sliding assemblies may be movably mounted on separate pairs of the parallel rails respectively. Each sliding assembly may be configurable to move together or separately along the parallel rails. Two seat pads may be adjustably secured to the two sliding assemblies respectively. Each seat pad may be rotationally adjustable to change angular relationship between the seat pad's longitudinal direction and movement direction along the parallel rails. Each seat pad may separately form a separate leg cushion to receive a leg position of a user to allow the user to move both legs in opposite directions along the parallel rails. Alternatively, the seat pads may be attached together longitudinally aligned to form a knee cushion to receive a kneeling position of the user towards the longitudinal direction of the seat pad to force the user to move and kneel in angular directions to impose a twisting effect on the user.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is illustrated by way of examples and not limitations in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
FIGS. 1A-1B are perspective views of embodiments of an exercise machine assembly;
FIGS. 2A-2B are exploded perspective views of embodiments of an exercise machine assembly;
FIGS. 3A-3B show a first example of an application of the present invention;
FIGS. 4A-4B show a second example of an application of the present invention;
FIGS. 5A-5B show a third example of an application of the present invention;
FIGS. 6A-6B show a fourth example of an application of the present invention;
FIGS. 7A-7B show a fifth example of an application of the present invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of external surfaces, named components, connections between components, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Further specific numeric references such as first, second, third, etc., may be made. However, the specific numeric references should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted as references to different objects. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. A reference number may refer to one or separate embodiments of a common subject.
FIGS. 1A-1B are perspective views of embodiments of an exercise machine assembly. Turning now to FIG. 1A, exercise machine (or device) 100A can include a track frame having resting bars 109 and elongated gliding rails 115 disposed in parallel. The track frame can have a lower end and a higher end supported by a support frame. Elongated gliding rails 115 may extend longitudinally along the lower end and the higher end of the track frame.
In one embodiment, resting bars 109 may be pivotally coupled with the support frame at the higher end of the track frame. Gliding rails 115 may be pivotally affixed to the support frame at the lower end of the track frame, two mounting assemblies 121 (e.g. a first one and a second one) may be movably mounted on separate portions (e.g. a first portion and a second portion) of elongated gliding rails 115 respectively. For example, a portion of gliding rails 115 may include two parallel gliding rails. Each mounting assembly 121 may be mounted along the two parallel gliding rails. Other applicable number of parallel or otherwise configured rail(s) to facilitate gliding movements of mounting assemblies 121 may be applicable. Each mounting assembly 121 is capable of gliding along the corresponding gliding rails 115 up and down between the higher end and the lower end of the track frame.
Knee pad 117 may be mounded on top of each mounting assembly 121. Adjustment knob 123 may be provided to allow rotational adjustment of knee pad 117 over the mounting surface of mounting assembly 121. For example, knee pad 117 can be rotated relative to mounting assembly 121 with respect to an axis that is substantially perpendicular to an axis of, for example, a portion or a part of elongated gliding rails 115. As a result, knee pad 117 may face a direction not aligned with the movement direction of mounting assembly 121 when gliding up and down along the corresponding portions of elongated gliding rails 115.
In one embodiment, each knee pad 117 may be formed in a shape suitable to receive the knees of a user while the user is positioned facing the higher end of the track frame to allow the user to move both knee pads 117 separately in different directions or together in the same direction. Alternatively, both knee pads (or seat pads) 117 may be attached to form a seat to allow the user to sit thereon and to rest user's feet at the lower end of the track frame while gliding along gliding rails 115.
In one embodiment, two resting bars 109 may be detachably coupled with two elongated gliding rails 115 respectively via, for example, latching structure 153. Thus, different sizes (or lengths) of gliding rails may be adapted to accommodate, for example, different users or usage requirements related to strenuousness of the exercise movement. Each resting bar may be aligned with a corresponding pair of gliding rails. The track frame and the support frame may be coupled at the higher end of the track frame via resting bars 109.
Two elbow pads 111 may be fixedly attached to resting bars 109 respectively. Each elbow pad 111 may have an elbow cushion to receive an elbow of a user of exercise machine 100A to move along the track frame. Handlebar 103 may be adjustably mounted on resting bars 109 to support hand holding from the user with elbows resting on elbow pads 111. Handlebar 103 may have two ends fixedly positioned on separate resting bars 109. Handlebar 103 may be adjusted to rotate around an axis formed by the two ends of handlebar 103 to change distances between handlebar 103 and elbow pads 111.
In one embodiment, a support frame can include base assembly 161 and an extendable support bar 127 adjustably coupled to base assembly 161. Base assembly 161 may rest on a floor via front base 159 and rear base 107. Front base 159 and rear base 107 may be coupled with each other via base bar 101 affixed in between. In some embodiments, extendable support bar 127 may be longitudinally aligned along a plane substantially perpendicular (or vertical) to the floor.
The track frame may be pivotally mounted to front base 159 at the lower end of the track frame. The track frame may be longitudinally directed via track direction (or have a track longitudinal direction) between the lower end and the higher end of the track frame. Base assembly 161 can be longitudinally directed via a base direction (or have a base longitudinal direction) along the floor between front base 159 and the rear base 107. The track frame may be adjustably movable around front base 159 for an angle formed by the track direction and the base direction, e.g. between rails 115 and base bar 101. The angle may correspond to a desired height of the higher end of the track frame.
In some embodiments, the support frame may provide a lifting support for maintaining an elevated position (e.g. with a height) above a floor for the higher end of the track frame. For example, extendable support bar 127 may stand upwardly on base assembly 161 to provide lifting support to elevate the track frame. Extendable support bar 127 may be adjustably (e.g. having an adjustable length) affixed to the higher end of the track frame to achieve a desired height. As a result, the track frame can be tilted up (or inclined) while the lower end of the track frame rests substantially on the floor to enable exercise movement up and down the gliding rails 115. In some embodiments, the support frame may be adjustable to substantially flatten machine 100 between the lower end and the higher end of the track frame.
Extendable support bar 127 can include a lower section 131 and an upper section 133 pivotally coupled to the track frame and base assembly 161 separately. For example, lower section 131 may be movably attached to base bar 101 at the base end of extendable support bar 127. Upper section 133 may be adjustably affixed to the higher end of the track frame at the track end of extendable support bar 127. In some embodiments, lower section 131 can have an insert and a locking mechanism with adjustment knob 129. Upper section 133 can have a series of longitudinally spaced apertures to selectively engage with lower section 131 inside the insert at one of the apertures via the locking mechanism according to a desired height at the higher end of the track frame.
In some embodiments, exercise machine 100 may include a track frame having parallel rails 115 to provide gliding support for movement along the parallel rails. Parallel rails 115 may have a higher end and a lower end. The higher end may be elevated at a height above the lower end for steepness of the movement. Additionally, exercise machine 100 may include a support frame adjustably affixed to the track frame at the lower end and higher end of the track frame. The support frame can provide elevation of the height for the parallel rails 115.
Two sliding assemblies 121 may be movably mounted on separate pairs of parallel rails 115 respectively. In some embodiments, each sliding assembly 121 may be mounted along multiple rails 115 to provide stability support during gliding movements. Sliding assemblies 121 may be configurable to move together or separately along parallel rails 115. Optionally or additionally, two seat pads 117 may be adjustably secured to sliding assemblies 121 respectively. Each seat pad 117 can have a longitudinal direction. Each seat pad 117 may be rotationally adjustable to change angular relationship between the longitudinal direction and movement direction along the parallel rails 115.
In some embodiments, each seat pad (or knee pad) 117 can separately form a leg cushion to receive a leg position of a user of exercise machine 100 to allow the user to move both legs in opposite directions along parallel rails 115. Alternatively, seat pads 117 may be attached (or attachable) together longitudinally aligned to form a knee cushion to receive a kneeling position of the user towards the longitudinal direction. The angular relationship between the longitudinal direction of seat pads 117 and movement direction along parallel rails 115 can allow the user to move and kneel in different directions to impose a twisting effect to exercise abdomen related muscles.
In one embodiment, exercise machine 100 may include a holding frame to provide hand holding support for a user, a track frame to provide movement support for the user. Alternatively or optionally, exercise machine 100 may include a foot base 125 at lower end. The holding frame may include handlebar 103 and/or elbow pads 111.
The track frame may include a first pair and a second pair of rails 115 affixed to the holding frame in parallel. The track frame may further include two moving assemblies 121 movably mounted on separate pairs or portions of rails 115. Two seat pads (or cushions) 117 may be adjustably secured to moving assemblies 121 separately. Adjustment of the seat pads 117 may allow the seat pads 117 to rotate on the moving assemblies 121. Seat pads 117 may be configurable to receive separate leg positions from the user to move both legs in opposite directions along separate portions of rails 115.
Alternatively, moving assemblies 121 may be attached together to form a single cushion with attached seat pads 117 rotationally adjusted to be aligned towards a common direction. For example, both seat pads 117 may face a floor direction to receive a resting or sitting position for the user to move both legs together along rails 115.
For example, the single cushion can be attached toward a common direction not aligned with movement direction along rails 115. As a result, the single cushion can receive a kneeling position from the user to move along rails 115 while imposing a twisting effect on the user. Optionally, the single cushion can be attached to align with the movement direction along rails 115 to receive a sitting position from the user to allow the user to rest both feet on foot base 125 for the movement.
Turning now to FIG. 1B, exercise machine 100B can include a track frame having elongated gliding rails 115 disposed in parallel as similarly discussed in exercise machine 100A of FIG. 1A. Moving assemblies 121 may be mounted along gliding rails 115 via linear bearing 165 to provide free movement along the longitudinal dimension of gliding rails 115.
FIGS. 2A-2B are exploded perspective views of embodiments of an exercise machine assembly as shown in FIG. 1A or 1B. Turning now to FIG. 2A, for example, mounting assembly, such as mounting assembly 121 of FIG. 1A, can include slide bracket 137 attached with one or more wheels (or rollers) 151 slidable (or rollable) along elongated gliding rail 115. A coupling control mechanism via control knob 119 can fasten two sliding brackets 137 together or allow slide brackets 137 to be separated to configure corresponding mounting assemblies 121 to move together or separately along gliding rails 115.
In one embodiment, seat pad 117 may be affixed with plate 145 on an opposite side to surface of seat pad 117. Plate 145 may include a curved track 149 which can be a hollow cut to allow rotational or curved position adjustment over slide bracket 137. For example, seat pad 117 may be attached to slide bracket 137 with adjustment knob 123 secured in a position along curved track 149 to rotate seat pad 117 to a desired direction. Handle position plate 157 may be preconfigured with a number of engaging holes to receive knob 135 for adjusting rotational positions between handle bar 103 and resting bar 109.
According to one embodiment, front assembly 159 may include a floor rod 163. Rear assembly 107 may include two base feet. Floor rod 163 together with the base feet of rear assembly 107 may provide floor support for machine 100. In some embodiments, extendable support bar 127 may include a middle section 139 received within lower section 131 for adjustably coupling upper section 133 and lower section 131.
Turning now to FIG. 2B, mounting assembly, such as mounting assembly 121 of FIG. 1B, can include slide bracket 137 affixed or attached with linear bearing 165. In one embodiment, bearing sleeves 167 may be disposed inside linear bearing 165 to provide low-friction movement of mounting assembly 121 along gliding rails 115. The movement may be powered by inertia or manually by hand.
FIGS. 3A-3B show a first example of an application of the present invention. For example, the user can hold handlebar 103 with the both hands with elbows resting on elbow pads 111 and kneel on two knee pads 117 attached to move together. The user can alternatively contract and release the abdominal muscles to move knee pads 117 along sliding rails 115 simultaneously with the legs. Knee pads 117 can slide up along gliding rails 115 to substantially touch elbow pads 111 to bring the knees close to the elbows.
FIGS. 4A-4B show a second example of an application of the present invention. Similar to the application in FIGS. 3A-3B, the user can hold handlebar 103 with the both hands with elbows resting on elbow pads 111. Knee cushions or knee pads 117 are configured to be separately moveable. The user can put one knee on each seat cushion 117 separately and slide one leg forward all the way to touch or close in on the elbow on elbow pads 111 while the other leg sliding backward away from the elbow and alternatively repeat the back and forth movement along gliding rails 115.
FIGS. 5A-5B show a third example of an application of the present invention. Similar to the application in FIGS. 3A-3B, the user kneels on two seat pads 117 attached to move together. Seat pads 117 are adjusted to rotate an angle towards left relative to movement direction along rails 115. As a result, a twisting effect can be imposed to abdomen related muscles of the user during movement along gliding rails 115.
FIGS. 6A-6B show a fourth example of an application of the present invention similar to the application in FIGS. 3A-3B. Seat cushions 117 are rotated to the right to twist user's muscles in a different direction than the application in FIGS. 5A-5B.
FIGS. 7A-7B show a fifth example of an application of the present invention. The user can sit on seat pads 117 attached to move together. The user can rest two feet on foot base 125 and then push and pull both legs to move seat pads 117 back and forth along gliding rails 115.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

## Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:
a track frame having a plurality of elongated gliding rails extended longitudinally along a higher end and a lower end of the track frame, the gliding rails including a first portion and a second portion,
wherein the elongated gliding rails are arranged in parallel to each other, the first portion of the elongated gliding rails including a first pair of the gliding rails, the second portion of the elongated gliding rails including a second pair of the gliding rails;

a support frame adjustably coupled to the track frame at the lower end and the higher end to provide support for the exercise machine, the support frame causing the track frame to be inclined from the lower end resting on a floor to a desired height of the higher end above the floor;
a first mounting assembly and a second mounting assembly movably mounted separately on the first portion and the second portion of the elongated gliding rails, wherein the first and second mounting assemblies are capable of gliding along the elongated eliding rails up and down between the higher end and the lower end of the track frame;
a first knee pad rotatably mounted on the first mounting assembly, wherein the first knee pad is capable of rotating relative to the first mounting assembly with respect to an axis that is substantially perpendicular to an axis along the first portion of the elongated gliding rails while the first mounting assembly glides up and down along the first portion of the elongated gliding rails; and
a second knee pad rotatably mounted on the second mounting assembly, wherein the second knee pad is capable of rotating relative to the second mounting assembly with respect to an axis that is substantially perpendicular to an axis along the second portion of the elongated gliding rails while the second mounting assembly glides up and down along the second portion of the elongated gliding rails.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises:
a base assembly resting on the floor, the base assembly having a front base and a rear base, wherein the track frame is pivotally mounted to the front base at the lower end, the track frame movable around the front base for an angle formed by a longitudinal direction of the track frame and a longitudinal direction of the base frame, the angle corresponding to the desired height of the higher end.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the base assembly includes a base bar affixed to the front base and the rear base, further comprising:
an extendable support bar having a base end and a track end, the base end pivotally affixed to the base bar, the track end pivotally affixed to the track frame at the higher end, the extendable support bar having an adjustable length to provide support for the desired height of the track frame.

4. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the extendable support bar comprises a lower section with the base end and an upper section with the track end, the lower section having an insert and a locking mechanism, the upper section having a series of longitudinally spaced apertures to selectively engage with the lower section inside the insert at one of the apertures via the locking mechanism accordingly to adjust the desired height for the track frame.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein each mounting assembly comprises:
a slide bracket slidably engaged with the elongated gliding rails; and
a coupling control mechanism to allow configuration of the first and second mounting assemblies to move together or separately.

6. The exercise machine of claim 5, wherein the mounting assembly includes one or more wheels affixed to the slide bracket, and wherein each wheel is rollable along one of the elongated gliding rails to allow the mounting assembly to glide along the elongated gliding rails.

7. The exercise machine of claim 5, wherein the mounting assembly includes one or sleeve bearings, wherein each sleeve bearing is engaged with one of the elongated gliding rails to provide one dimensional movement for the mounting assembly to glide along the one elongated gliding rail.

8. The exercising machine of claim 1, further comprising:
resting bars detachably coupled with the elongated gliding rails,
wherein the track frame and the support frame are coupled at the higher end of the track frame via the resting bars and
wherein the resting bars are detachable from the elongated gliding rails to allow adaptation of different sizes of the elongated gliding rails.

9. The exercising machine of claim 8, further comprising:
two elbow pads fixedly attached to the resting bars respectively, each elbow pad having an elbow cushion to receive an elbow of the user to cause the movement; and
a handlebar adjustably mounted on the resting bars to support hand holding from the user with elbows resting on elbow cushions of the elbow pads, the handlebar having two ends fixedly positioned separately on the resting bars, adjustment of the handlebar to allow rotating the handlebar around an axis formed by the two ends to change distances between the handlebar and the elbow pads.

10. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the first and the second knee pads are formed in a shape suitable to receive knees of a user while the user is positioned facing the higher end of the track frame, and wherein the shape allows the user to sit thereon facing away from the higher end of the track frame with the user's feet resting at the lower end of the track frame.

11. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein the support frame is adjustable to substantially flatten the machine between the lower end and the higher end of the track frame.