Abstract:
An abdominal exerciser can be used while standing up. The user stands on the anchor base and rests the neckpad on his shoulders while gripping the handlebars. The user can then bend forward and backward to strengthen the abdominal and lower back muscles or side-to-side to strengthen the obliques. The unit is adjustable to fit various sizes of users and/or styles of workouts and can be partially disassembled for easy transportation. The unit comprises an elongate stem/tail assembly, a handlebar assembly including the neckpad to attach at the upper end, and an anchor base to attach at the bottom end. Resistance bands removably attached to hooks between the anchor base and the stem/tail assembly provide variable resistance to the user.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/060,782, entitled “Abdominal Exerciser,” filed on Jun. 11, 2008, with inventor David Placencia, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains generally to exercise equipment and more particularly to a stand-alone piece of equipment for exercising the abdominal, oblique, and lower back muscles. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE FIELD 
   There is a limited choice of exercise equipment on the market today for exercising and strengthening the body&#39;s core muscles, including abdominals, obliques, and lower back muscles. Many of these equipment choices require that the user sit or lie down—putting pressure on the user&#39;s spine and coccyx. If the user must lie down in a prone position, typically the knees and/or thighs are engaged. In addition, many of these equipment choices are stationary, such as sit-up chairs and crunching machines, and are therefore not easily portable. 
   Many people who exercise regularly prefer to divide their exercise time between the various large groups of muscles in the body in order to focus their efforts for optimum results. For instance, during one training session, they will exercise the arms and upper body, during another training session, they will exercise the legs and lower body, and during even another training session they will exercise the abdominals and back muscles. Therefore, when exercising the abdominals, it is desirable to also be able to include the obliques, lower back, and other proximate muscles for a focused training session. 
   Furthermore, a portable piece of equipment is often sought. Many people do not want to have to search out a new gym whenever they travel, but at the same time do not want to forgo their regular exercise routine. Because most abdominal exercisers of the type found in gyms are fixed to the floor and/or use extensive frames to provide resistance, they are not conducive to travel. As a stop-gap solution, many people think to rely on exercise bands of the type that can be attached temporarily to doorknobs or doorframes or that can be stood on to be made stationary. A problem with these exercise bands is that they do not offer much stability and are difficult to control. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a portable piece of equipment that can be used while standing. This invention is small and lightweight enough to be stowed and carried by the smallest adult users, yet strong and durable enough to be used by the largest adult users. The invention of the abdominal exerciser enables a user to perform a variety of abdominal crunch-like movements to exercise and condition the abdominal, oblique, and lower back or “core” muscles while standing up as opposed to sitting down or lying as other devices require a person to do. In addition to alleviating pressure on the spine and coccyx, standing can ensure that the knees and thighs are not engaged, but that the exercise focuses on the muscles of interest. 
   The invention may comprise an elongate stem/tail assembly which links a neck pad and handlebar assembly to an anchor base using resistance bands. The design of the exerciser makes use of the user&#39;s weight while standing on the anchor base to hold the equipment in place and does not require any fastening to wall or floor. Both the height of the overall assembled exerciser and the arm positions of the handlebars may be adjustable to fit a wide variety of users. Moreover, the resistance may be made adjustable by changing resistance bands or even using two or more bands together at the same time. The folding handlebar assembly allows for enhanced portability and storage of the device. 
   Two versions of the abdominal exerciser are offered herein—a preferred embodiment that is ergonomically designed and takes advantage of enhanced manufacturing materials and techniques and an alternate embodiment that can be built more simply and inexpensively but that nevertheless offers the same exercising benefits. Both versions can provide the user with a comprehensive abdominal workout including obliques and lower back muscles. Both versions offer adjustability (typically at the handlebar assembly and the tail extension) so that the user can adjust the exerciser to fit his or her individual size, style, and exercise requirements, and can offer additional comfort through the use of hand grips on the handlebars. Furthermore, in both versions, the user can swap resistance bands or even use more than one resistance band at a time to further customize his or her workout. It is understood that although these two versions are represented here on paper, other embodiments of the inventive concept can be built which will also be covered by these claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from reading the following description in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a person using the abdominal exerciser; 
       FIG. 1A  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the abdominal exerciser; 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the abdominal exerciser; 
       FIG. 2A  is a side cutaway view of the handlebar assembly of the preferred embodiment in  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of an alternate design of the handlebar assembly; 
       FIG. 3A  is a rear view of the neck pad of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 3B  is a top detail view of an alternate design of the neck pad; 
       FIG. 4A  is a side detail view of the stem and upper connector of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 5A  is a side detail view of the tail extension of the  FIG. 1A  embodiment; 
       FIG. 5B  is a detail view of an alternate design of the tail extension; 
       FIG. 6  is a detail view of a resistance band; 
       FIG. 7A  is a detail view of the anchor base of the  FIG. 1A  embodiment with the cross member deployed; and 
       FIG. 7B  is a detail view of an alternate embodiment of the anchor base. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following specification describes an abdominal exerciser apparatus and method for using. In the description, specific materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a more complete understanding of the present invention. But it is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced without those specific details. In some instances, well-known elements are not described precisely so as not to obscure the invention. 
     FIG. 1  shows a person using the abdominal exerciser  10  to condition (or strengthen) his abdominal muscles. He is standing upright with his feet on the anchor base  12  and his hands gripping the handlebars  14  (which in this illustration are fitted with hand grips for comfort and control), the neck pad  16  resting on his shoulders and upper back. The elongate stem member  22  defines an attachment area at its top/upper end where the handlebar assembly is to be adjustably attached and the neck pad is also to be attached. (The term “handlebar assembly” will be used throughout this description instead of “handlebar”; however, the reader understands that the handlebar assembly may be made by various manufacturing methods as one piece) In this exercise shown, the user is bending forward to strengthen his abdominal muscles. In the interest of space, other specific exercises are not shown; however, the reader understands that the user of this equipment could bend in several different ways to maximize the variety of strengthening and toning exercises. For instance, the user can bend forward to condition (or strengthen) the abdominal muscles and then slowly resist the pull of the resistance band(s) while returning to the upright position to condition (or strengthen) the lower back muscles. The user can also bend or twist his or her torso to the left or right while bending forward to condition (or strengthen) the oblique muscles. Resistance to the user is provided by the resistance band(s)  18  attached between the anchor base  12  and the tail extension  20 , which in turn slides up into the stem  22  and is stopped at a user-prescribed point by a stop at the lower end of the stem. The tail extension  20  defines a hook at its bottom end where the resistance bands (at least one) are to be attached. In this illustration, a cross member  62  (further described below) extends generally orthogonally from the anchor base in order to further space the resistance band(s)  18  from the user. 
     FIG. 1A  shows the abdominal exerciser  10  as it may be embodied in a first version made from high-strength, durable plastic, composite, or other suitable material. This version presents an ergonomically curved stem  22  to direct the tail extension  20  away from the user&#39;s body. The tail extension  20  slides up into the hollow stem so that the user can shorten or lengthen the entire assembly to account for the user&#39;s height and comfort level. This stem/tail assembly may be of two pieces—one nested into the other as described, or it may be of one-piece construction—having the tail portion extendable from the elongate stem member.  FIG. 1B  shows an alternate embodiment that may be produced more inexpensively, using more conventional tubing for the stem  22  (a generally elongate hollow cylinder having an upper end and a lower end) and a simpler connection at the upper connector  24  in proximity to the neck pad  16 . This figure shows the neck pad and handlebar assembly attached to the top/upper end of the stem, the tail extension slidably attached at the lower end of the stem, and the resistance bands attached to the bottom end of the tail extension. Regardless of the stem/tail design, there will be an attachment area at the top/upper end of the elongate member/portion for the neck pad and handlebars/handlebar assembly, and a hook at the bottom end of the extendable portion for the resistance band(s) and anchor base. 
     FIG. 2A  is a side cutaway view of the handlebar adjustment and the upper connector  24  of the first embodiment. The handlebars  14  are preferably contoured to fit the user&#39;s stance and grip and may be fixed to the stem or adjustably attached through the upper connector  24 , which is fixed either to the upper end  26  of the stem  22  at the top attachment area or to the handlebar assembly  14  itself. In a preferred embodiment, the upper connector  24  may include a spring-loaded handlebar stop  28  with a finger pull  30  that is designed to fit selectively into stop slots  32  arranged around fixed disk  34 . Such selection of the desired stop slot is similar to a ratchet and pawl or a spring and detent mechanism. Adjusting the handlebar assembly thus—relative to the stem member—changes the included angle  35  between the handlebars and the stem  22  and can be chosen so that the user will grip the handlebars closer to his chest or further above his head—in order to customize the exercise experience. There may be a left and a right disk  34  in order to allow the left and right handlebars  14  to be adjusted independently, or one disk as shown can adjust the entire handlebar assembly. 
     FIG. 2B  is a detail exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the handlebar assembly  14  according to  FIG. 1B  which may comprise a gear tooth collar  36  within a clampdown assembly  38  fastened to the upper end  26  of the stem. Once again, this arrangement of elements allows that the equipment could be manufactured from more conventional parts. In this case, upon tightening of the clampdown assembly  38 , the teeth inside the clampdown assembly  38  engage with the gear tooth collar  36  to prevent slippage. This method also accomplishes the goal of changing the included angle between handlebars and stem. 
     FIG. 3A  shows a preferred embodiment of the neck pad  16  from the rear instead of from the side as in  FIG. 1A , which is considered part of the handlebar assembly. Because the stem  22  itself is constrained only by the user&#39;s size and posture, it is not necessary for the neck pad  16  to be adjustable, and it simply attaches to the upper end  26  of the stem proximate the handlebar assembly  14 . The attachment may be accomplished by sliding attachment slots  40  onto the mating prongs  42  (shown in  FIG. 2A ) provided on the upper connector  24  or even on the upper end  26  of the stem  22 . Thus, the neck pad becomes part of the overall handlebar assembly. 
     FIG. 3B  is a detail view of an alternate embodiment of the neck pad  16  according to  FIG. 1B  (as seen from the top) which may comprise an attachment brace  44  with pin  46  for attaching to the upper end of the stem. In this case, the stem  22  will need to have the appropriate holes for the pin  46 . This method of attaching the neck pad will also be non-adjustable, as is the arrangement of  FIG. 3A ; however, it can be accomplished more conventionally. In either case, the neck pad  16  is large enough and offers enough cushioning to protect the user&#39;s neck and shoulders and to provide comfort while using the equipment. The neck pad also may comprise support plates between the connectors (prongs or brackets) and the cushion for stiffening. 
     FIG. 4A  shows how the stem  22  of the preferred embodiment may have the upper connector  24  mounted on the upper end  26  at the top attachment area. As described above, the upper connector  24  may house adjustable fastening means for the handlebar assembly  14  and the neck pad  16 . The upper connector  24  may be provided in two halves so that one half may be removed to allow the handlebar assembly to break down for easier shipping, storage, and portability. The stem  22  is optimally curved as shown to provide a more ergonomic fit for the user, but can be alternately provided as a straighter design as shown in  FIG. 1B . The stem should be at least partially hollow in order to slidably house the tail extension  20 , and comprises a lower connector  48  to house a spring loaded tail stop  50  with finger pull  52  similar to the handlebar stop  28  and finger pull  30 . The figures show how the tail extension  20  is adjustable relative to the stem so that the user may select the appropriate length of the overall assembly (to adjust for the user&#39;s height, etc.). 
     FIG. 5A  shows how the tail extension  20  of the preferred embodiment defines stop slots  56  to cooperate with the finger pull  52  and stop  50  in order to adjust the overall length of the stem/tail assembly. A user may wish to adjust the length to accommodate his or her height or to provide more or less resistance in combination with the resistance band(s)  18 . Hook  58  will be provided on the lower end of the tail extension, which itself may be straight as shown in  FIG. 5B  or somewhat curved as shown here. (Straight or curved, the tail extension may fit slidably within the hollow stem of the exerciser.) The stop slots  56  may be located at regular intervals along the tail extension  20 , such as inches, and they may be marked with height indicators as shown. In the alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 5B , the adjustment of the tail extension relative to the stem may be accomplished simply with a collar and a pull pin as shown to selectively fasten the tail extension (which may be fitted with stop slots). 
     FIG. 6  shows a resistance band  18 . Resistance bands are typically made from rubber or some other elastomeric material so that they will stretch but recover their original length when tension is removed, and can be made in differing thicknesses or from different materials to offer variable resistance at the same length. For this exerciser, the bands  18  may have an attachment ring  60  at either end to facilitate quick and secure attachment between the tail hook  58  and the anchor base  12 . Several different size bands (e.g., diameter, length) may be provided with the exerciser, and the user may use one or more bands to customize his or her desired resistance level. 
     FIG. 7A  shows the anchor base  12  of the first embodiment. The user stands with both feet on the anchor base  12 , using his or her weight to hold the exerciser in place throughout the exercise. (Alternatively, of course, the user could place a heavy weight on the anchor base to provide the necessary normal force or could fasten the anchor base to the ground or floor.) The base is preferably cambered as in the illustration in order to support the weight but also to bite into the floor (typically a rubber mat, rug, or carpet) so as to secure the base from sliding. The anchor base  12  also may be grooved on the top and coated on the underside with a non-slip material so as to provide traction. In the preferred embodiment, cross member  62  can be used to space the resistance band (which will be attached to hook  64  generally located at the distal end of the cross member  62 ) further away from the user and to further stabilize the anchor base when in use. Because the cross member  62  pivots on the pin  66 , the cross member can swivel to align with the anchor base for storage.  FIG. 7B  shows an anchor base for the alternate version which comprises the hook at the center for attaching the resistance band(s). After the user has selected and installed the desired resistance band(s), he stands on the anchor base and grips the handlebars of the handlebar assembly. The user then bends in the appropriate way to apply tension to the resistance band(s).