Abstract:
The current invention is an exercise apparatus that relates to the field of exercise. The apparatus is a freestanding machine with the primary purpose of exercising the lower abdominal muscles, although other muscle groups may be exercised secondarily. The primary muscles targeted include the rectus abdominis and the tendinous inscriptions. The following muscles may be exercised secondarily while either engaged in lower abdominal exercises or while performing exercises specific to each muscle group: the tensor fasciae, rectus femoris and the vastus lateralis; the biceps femoris, adductor magnus, semitendinosus gracillis and semimembranosus; the gluteus medialis and the gluteus maximus; thoracolumbar fascia and the erector spinae, triceps brachii.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention, the lower abdominal exercise apparatus with freestanding knee-raise stand is an exercise apparatus that is to be used when strengthening the abdominal muscles. However, whereas many inventions focus on targeting the abdominal muscles as a whole, the current invention focuses on targeting the lower portion of the rectus abdominis and the obliquus internus. The current invention provides the maximum amount of resistance to the lower portion of the rectus abdominis and the obliquus internus during each repetition performed. Exercising the lower portion of the abdominal muscles is the primary application of this invention. Therefore, the invention applies to the field of exercise. Further, the present invention presents novel features leading to a toned abdominal musculature. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    There are countless machines and apparatuses out there to assist in strengthening the body and all of its muscle groups. Sebastian (U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,720) discusses the importance of strong abdominals and their direct affect on an individual&#39;s “core.” Furthermore, he dissects the term “abdominals” and concludes the term references many different muscle groups including the obliquus internus, transversus abdominis, the rectus abdominis, and the pyramidalis muscle. This invention focuses on targeting the lower regions of the rectus abdminis and the obliquus internus, although the transversus abdominis and the pyramidalis muscle may be exercised secondarily. 
         [0005]    Stearns (U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,449) discusses the different types of abdominal exercisers. In his application, Stearns reports three distinct types of abdominal movement: the “crunch,” which consists of a back and forth motion of the upper torso while the user is seated in an upright position; the “sway,” which consists of the user lifting a selected weight while moving the upper torso from side to side, either in a seated upright or standing position; and the “twist,” which requires the user to twist the torso in order to lift the weights and exercise the outer abdominal region. Each method described by Stearns targets a specific region of the abdominals. The crunch method is used when targeting the upper, inner and outer regions of the rectus abdominis, thus, the lower portion of the abdominal region is targeted minimally. The sway and twist methods are used to target the inner and outer oblique muscles, thus, once again, leaving the lower abdominal region to be targeted minimally and secondarily. 
         [0006]    Durfee (U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,643 B2) discusses the trend within the United States and the dollar amount spent on the desire to obtain a toned midsection. Durfee claims that the U.S. alone spends hundreds of millions of dollars on home exercise equipment, and that number is much larger when including commercial health and fitness club equipment. 
         [0007]    VanDerHoeven (U.S. Pat. No. 4, 848,740) discusses the issues with regular sit-ups. Discussed are the countless number of hours and repetitions required to successfully obtain a toned abdominal musculature from simply performing sit-ups alone. VanDerHoeven claims they are ineffective when used alone because they only exercise a portion of the abdominal region and it requires a lot of time and dedication to obtain results. 
         [0008]    The abdominal muscles as a whole are essential to an individual&#39;s core strength and one&#39;s overall health. Athletes and non-athletes alike must build a strong core in order to endure rigorous workouts involving weight training or to simply maintain good health. The current invention promotes weight loss, thus, improving the user&#39;s overall health and well-being. Previous apparatuses aimed at targeting the lower portion of the abdominal muscles are limited. Most apparatuses focus on the upper and middle areas of the abdominal muscles. The current invention primarily focuses on targeting the lower abdominal region, consequently, targeting the middle and upper regions of the abdominal muscles secondarily. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The lower abdominal exercise apparatus with freestanding knee-raise stand is an exercise apparatus aimed at targeting the lower portion of the rectus abdominis. 
         [0010]    The user may choose to sit on a bench in a slightly crunched over position, ankles connected to a weight loaded ankle attachment attached to a pulley system, and engage in a crunching motion by bringing her/his knees to her/his chest. She/he may also choose to perform weighted lying leg raises on the bench while wearing the ankle attachment and raising her/his legs, thus exercising the lower region of the rectus abdominis. The user may also choose to use the freestanding knee-raise stand with or without using the weight loaded ankle attachment attached to the pulley system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of the apparatus with some parts missing. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a close-up front view of the weight stack, pulley system and housing frame. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows the bolt to be used to secure pulley wheel to apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows the pulley wheel. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows the base pieces to be bolted into ground. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows the nut to be used with bolt when securing pulley wheel to apparatus. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows the handles near the foot of the bench. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows the handles near the head of the bench. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows lower pulleys and the loop at the end of the cable where an attachment hook is connected to in order to attach various attachments, including the ankle attachment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  shows weight stack with a close-up on the cable and weight stack connector and guide rods. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11A  shows weight selector pin. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11B  shows a close-up view of weight selector pin. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  shows the weight selector rod with cable and first weight plate connector. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  shows a detailed weight plate. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  shows the weight selector rod through weight plates. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  shows the freestanding knee-raise stand. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  shows a side view of the freestanding knee-raise stand. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  shows a rear view of the freestanding knee-raise stand&#39;s upper-body support pad and frame. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  shows the cable stopper. 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  shows the guide rods. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  shows a side view of the weight stack guard, without the frame around it. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  shows a side view of the weight stack guard with weights, without the frame around it. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  shows a top-down view of the weight stack rack without weights, showing cable and guide rod holes. 
           [0034]      FIG. 23  shows a front view of ankle attachment with strap unbuckled. 
           [0035]      FIG. 24  shows a front view of ankle attachment with strap buckled. 
           [0036]      FIG. 25  shows a side view of ankle attachment, fully showing heel support. 
           [0037]      FIG. 26  shows a rear view of ankle attachment with loop for connector. 
           [0038]      FIG. 27  shows the ankle attachment cuff connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Composition/Manufacture 
       [0039]    The present invention is comprised of many parts, all of which are necessary for it to function properly. The apparatus contains a bench that is permanently and securely fastened to the base, a freestanding knee-raise stand that is permanently and securely fastened to the base, a weight stack, a series of pulleys and a cable and an ankle attachment. The ankle attachment may be removed and swapped out for another attachment to do other exercises. 
         [0040]    The base ( FIG. 1 , “ 18 ”) of the apparatus is made out of heavy-duty steel that is durable enough for it to maintain its integrity while enduring the stress of rigorous weight training. The base of the apparatus can also be bolted ( FIG. 5 ) into the ground to stabilize it from potentially moving while it is in use. Securely and permanently attached to the base of the apparatus is a flat bench. The base ( FIG. 1 , “ 6 ”) of the bench is made out of the same steel as the base of the entire apparatus. 
         [0041]    The bench pad ( FIG. 1 , “ 2 ”) is made of three components: plywood, padding and a leather wrapping. The plywood is used to securely fasten the entire pad structure to the frame of the bench. The second component of the bench pad structure is the padding, which allows for the comfortable usage by each user. The third component is leather wrapping, which is wrapped around the padding and is stapled to the back of the plywood, under the bench, that is connected to the frame of the bench and, consequently, the base of the apparatus. The plywood in the bench pad structure is 3′ long×1′ wide×½″ thick. The padding is 3′ long×1′ wide×2″ thick. The leather wrapping is heavy-duty, commercial grade wrap that can withstand constant use. 
         [0042]    On the bench there are two handles ( FIG. 1 , “ 1 ”), one on either side of the pad. The handles are positioned and securely fastened to the plywood in the bench pad ( FIG. 1 , “ 2 ”). The handles are positioned  4 ″ from the head of the bench. Also on the bench are 2 more handles ( FIG. 1 , “ 8 ”), which are 1′ from the foot of the bench. All 4 handles are made out of steel and are coated with rubber to provide traction for the user. Further, all 4 handles are 1″ thick, round and have a gripping space of 8″. 
         [0043]    Attached to the base securely and permanently via weldment is a freestanding knee-raise stand ( FIG. 1 , “ 37 ”). The stand ( FIG. 15 ) measures 5′5″ tall and has two padded armrests ( FIG. 15 , “ 41 ”) that protrude perpendicularly from its frame, allowing the user to rest her/his arms, thus, supporting her/his bodyweight for knee-raises. At the end of each padded armrest is a handle ( FIG. 15 , “ 40 ”), which is at a 90-degree angle to the padded armrests, facing upwards. The freestanding knee-raise stand has a back/upper-body support pad ( FIG. 15 , “ 38 ”) that is similar to the one on the bench. It is made of the same materials, plywood, padding and leather wrapping, and is securely fastened to the stand. The back/upper-body support pad is securely fastened to the freestanding knee-raise stand with 4 bolts ( FIG. 17 , “ 44 ”), which hold the pad in place through the base&#39;s portion of the back support ( FIG. 17 , “ 43 ”). 
         [0044]    Strategically placed 3′ away from and centered with the foot of the bench ( FIG. 1 , “ 2 ”) is a weight stack ( FIG. 1 , “ 9 ”). The weight stack itself is a series of weight plates that are stacked upon one another. However, in order for the weight stack to function properly, there are various components that come into play: the weights ( FIG. 13 , “ 9 ”) themselves, a cable ( FIG. 9 , “ 10 ”), a top pulley ( FIG. 2 , “ 11 ”- FIG. 4 , “ 35 ” for a close-up), a weight selector pin ( FIG. 11A ) used with rod in weight stack, a lower pulley ( FIG. 2 , “ 13 ”), an extended ground pulley ( FIG. 2 , “ 14 ”), a cable stopper ( FIG. 2 , “ 15 ”), a loop ( FIG. 9 , “ 16 ”) at the user-end of the cable for attachment hooks, a weight selector rod ( FIG. 12 , “ 30 ”), which contains a cable and first weight plate connector ( FIG. 12 , “ 17 ”) with weight selector rod ( FIG. 14 . “ 30 ”), weight stack guide rods ( FIG. 2 , “ 26 ”) and weight stack shock absorbers ( FIG. 2 , “ 7 ”). 
         [0045]    Each weight plate has 4 through and through holes, from top to bottom: 1 in the middle for the weight selector rod, 1 on either side of the weight selector rod hole for the guide rods, and 1 through and through hole, from the front of the plate to the back of the plate, that is perpendicular to and intercepts and continues through the center hole. The weight selector rod ( FIG. 14 , “ 30 ”) goes through the weight selector rod hole ( FIG. 14 , “ 32 ”). The two guide rods ( FIG. 2 , “ 26 ”) go through the two holes ( FIG. 14 , “ 42 ”) on either side of the center hole. The weight stack shock absorbers are round, doughnut shaped rubber buffers that are 1″ thick and sit around the guide rods. The weight selector pin ( FIG. 11A ) uses the hole ( FIG. 13 . “ 31 ”) on the front side of the weight plate that is perpendicular to the center hole that goes from top to bottom. 
         [0046]    The weight selector pin ( FIG. 11A ) is composed of two different materials: high-impact heavy-duty plastic and a steel pin-like structure. The high-impact heavy-duty plastic serves as a handle ( FIG. 11A , “ 12 ”) and the steel portion is inserted into hole number  31  depicted in  FIG. 13 . The steel portion ( FIG. 11B , “ 28 ”) of the weight selector pin has slightly raised bumps ( FIG. 11B , “ 29 ”) on either side, near the tip of the pin-like structure. 
         [0047]    The weight selector rod ( FIG. 14 , “ 30 ”) has a total of 14 holes, which are used with the weight selector pin by the user to select a desired weight. The first plate, which weighs 10 lbs, is securely and permanently welded to the cable and first weight plate connector ( FIG. 10 , “ 17 ”). The cable ( FIG. 10 , “ 10 ”) is also securely and permanently fastened to the cable and first weight plate connector ( FIG. 10 , “ 17 ”). 
         [0048]    Surrounding the weight stack ( FIG. 2 , “ 9 ”) is a weight stack guard ( FIG. 2 , “ 45 ”) to protect the user, as well as nonusers, from potential injury that may be inflicted while the apparatus is being used. The weight stack, when the apparatus is being used, will be guided in an upward direction by two guide rods ( FIG. 2 , “ 26 ”), one on either side of the weight selector rod ( FIG. 12 ). The guide rods are made of hollow steel and their only utility is to guide the selected weights on the stack up and down in a straight line when being lifted by the user. 
         [0049]    There are a total of 15 weight plates stacked on the weight stack, including the first weight plate, which is permanently attached to the weight selector rod. The first 5 weight plates are in 10 lb increments. Each plate thereafter comes in 15 lb increments. The 10 lb increments max out at 50 lbs before turning to 15 lb increments, which maxes the weight stack out at 200 lbs. The first weight plate is permanently attached to the cable and weight plate connector. Therefore, the lightest weight that may be selected is 10 lbs. 
         [0050]    Just above the weight stack is a pulley ( FIG. 2 , “ 11 ”), which allows the user&#39;s exerted energy to be converted into a force with the proper angle that is sufficient enough to lift the selected number of weight plates. Directly below pulley number  11  in  FIG. 2  is another pulley, the lower pulley ( FIG. 2 , “ 13 ”), which is connected to the bottom of the weight stack rack, which directs the cable from the cable and weight plate connector and, consequently, the top pulley, to the user. Slightly closer to the user is another pulley ( FIG. 2 , “ 14 ”), which is the last pulley in the series, thus leading the cable ( FIG. 2 , “ 10 ”) to the user. Near the end of the cable is a cable stopper ( FIG. 18 , “ 15 ”) that fits on the cable and prevents it from getting pulled through to the other side of the pulley. At the end of the cable, closest to the user, is the loop ( FIG. 2 , “ 16 ”), which is used to hook attachments to with an attachment hook. The attachment hook that will be used is the standard hook that most commercial exercise machines use. 
         [0051]    The ankle attachment ( FIGS. 23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27 ), which contains 2 cuff/heel supports and a connector, is primarily 2 ankle cuffs with heel supports built in to them to reduce the cuffs&#39; movement while they are in use. The attachment is made of several materials: nylon, steel, heavy-duty high-impact plastic and rubber. The cuffs themselves ( FIG. 23 , “ 3 ”) and the buckle strap ( FIG. 23 , “ 5 ”) are made out of heavy-duty nylon. The inside of each cuff is cushioned with material padding to provide a cushion, thus making its use more enjoyable for the user. The buckle ( FIG. 23 , “ 4 ”) is made out of steel and is similar to those found on belts. The heel support ( FIG. 25 , “ 48 ”) is made out of both heavy-duty high-impact plastic and rubber. The inside of the heel support structure is heavy-duty high-impact plastic and the rubber is simply a thin layer over the plastic to provide traction with the user&#39;s foot. On the back of each cuff portion of the ankle attachment is a loop ( FIG. 26 , “ 49 ”) where each cuff is to be connected to one another using the connector ( FIG. 27 ), making them a cohesive unit. To the left of the cuff portion of the ankle attachment, in brackets, is the loop ( FIG. 26 , “ 49 ”). The loop has two prongs, on one either side, that are under the top layer of nylon material and between two different layers, the inner cushion and outer nylon, that make up each cuff. The connection will be made with the ankle attachment cuff connector ( FIG. 27 ). 
         [0052]    The cuff connector is made of two different materials: steel and nylon. The nylon portion ( FIG. 27 , “ 50 ”) of the connector is 4 ½″ long×1″ wide×⅛″ thick. The steel portion ( FIG. 27 , “ 51 ”) consists of two grooved clasp rings, which have just enough play in the material to open and hook around the loop while maintaining their integrity during rigorous use. In the middle of the cuff connector ( FIG. 27 ) is a loop ( FIG. 27 , “ 52 ”) that is used to connect the user&#39;s ankles in the cuffs to the weighted cable on the pulley system. 
         [0053]    The wire cable that is used to connect the weight stack from the cable and weight plate connector, through the pulleys, to the user is similar to the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 401,112 by T. C. Batchelor and A. Latch. Described and depicted in the application is a cable that consists of a straight wire and others wrapped around it. This type of wire cable is used. However, at the user&#39;s end there is a loop built in ( FIG. 9 , “ 16 ”) where an attachment hook may be placed. 
       USAGE 
     Distinguished from Other Inventions 
       [0054]    While other exercise benches allow users to use handles at the head of the bench to maintain their balance while performing certain exercises, the current invention does much more than just this. Such handles are usually in the center of the bench. The present invention has 2 handles near the head of the bench, however they are on either side of the bench pad. This location allows the user to stabilize her/his body better than the handles that are placed in the center at the head of the bench while in a lying position. 
         [0055]    The current invention also features  2  handles, also on either side of the bench pad, located near the foot of the bench. These handles allow the user to balance her/himself while performing certain lower abdominal exercises while in a seated position. The handles are located 1′ from the foot of the bench, on either side of the pad. 
         [0056]    Another novel feature of the current invention is the strategically placed weight stack, thus, allowing users to do a variety of lower abdominal exercises while using the additional resistance provided by weights while on a bench. In addition to the weight stack, the current invention also possesses a freestanding knee-raise stand that is positioned so it may be used with the weight stack if the user desires to do so. 
         [0057]    Although the current invention is primarily used to strengthen the lower abdominals, the user may perform the following exercises and exercise the following muscles secondarily: standing leg curls (biceps femoris, semitendinosus gracillis and adductor magnus), standing one-legged leg kicks (vastus medialis, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis), bent over rows (latissimus dorsi, trapezius and thorocolumbar facscia), standing one-legged kickbacks (gluteus medius and gluteus maximus). 
         [0058]    The present invention eliminates the need for a workout partner to push down on the user&#39;s ankles in order to create the desired resistance when targeting the lower abdominal muscles, while performing lying leg extensions. Furthermore, the present invention eliminates the need to use dumbbells, which are commonly used when looking to add resistance when performing knee-raises while using the freestanding knee-raise stand and knee-to-chest crunches while seated on a bench. By eliminating the need to use dumbbells for this additional resistance, the current invention greatly reduces the risk associated with performing weighted knee-raises and knee-to-chest crunches.