Abstract:
An improved abdominal bench having a simplified structure, a more comprehensive weight system, a multi-positional foot assembly and a more streamlined frame and pivoting linkages.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/730,856 filed Oct. 28, 2005, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OF THE MANNER AND PROCESS OF MAKING AND USING IT 
   Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to an improved, dual function sit-up and abdominal exercising bench system. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention, its objectives and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the abdominal bench according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view thereof in a normal position, with portions taken away for clarity; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view thereof in an operated condition, with portions taken away for clarity; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view if  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the weight assembly; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the foot support assembly; 
       FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional vie of the foot assembly; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the weight locking mechanism; and 
       FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the weight assembly as mounted and locked in place. 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a portion of the multi-pivot foot system support tube; 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective vie of another portion of the foot support tube assembly; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a foot assembly disconnect feature; and 
       FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 15 . 
   

   BACKGROUND 
   Reference is hereby made to two of my previous patents relating to abdominal benches, U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,154 (the &#39;154 patent), filed on May 14, 2001, which issued on Apr. 8, 2003, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,884,203 (the &#39;203 patent), filed on May 19, 2003 and issued on Apr. 26, 2005. Both are commonly owned and are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
   Abdominal benches, or ab benches, have become well known and used within the exercise equipment market. My &#39;154 patent disclosed an ab bench having a minimum number of pivots and a sliding weight that permitted both negative and positive resistance to be obtained by a bench user. My &#39;203 patent, described, in part, an ab bench with multiple pivots that allowed a constant gap to be maintained between the seat and torso cushions during use of the bench. That was accomplished by using a plurality of pivot points around which the torso and its linkage members moved. It also allowed the torso and leg assembly to operate together when desired. 
   The present abdominal bench exhibits a streamlined construction and its operating linkages have been modified making the bench equally useful yet more desirable by being lighter in weight, having additional features in the foot assembly, in the sliding weight, and in the central moving member. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows the improved abdominal bench as being comprised of several sections including a torso section  100 , a seat section  102 , a foot assembly  104 , a frame  106 , a weight assembly  108  and a linkage section  110 . 
   The frame  106  includes a pair of outer frame elements  120  and  122  that form the main support of the bench as well as the visible outer sides of the bench itself. These are preferably formed from plate stock and have a thickness of about 5′16 th  inches and a finished height of about 20 inches. As shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  11  each main frame element  120  and  122  has a straight center section and opposing curved end sections. Using plate stock provides sufficient strength yet reduces weight and simplifies both manufacture and assembly. The head or torso end includes a horizontal base  124 , which can be welded or attached to each of the frame elements  120  and  122  by bolts or other convenient means, and base  124  includes a cut out portion  126  and a pair of rubber feet  128  and  130 . The opposite end of the frame elements  120  and  122  also includes a base  140 , a pair of feet  142  and  144 , and a pair of rollers  146  and  148  rotatably mounted respectively to frame elements  120  and  122 . Each frame piece  120  and  122  also includes a hand gripping cut out  150  and  152 , respectively, that permit a user to grab and then pick up the head end of the bench and roll the opposite end on rollers  146  and  148 . 
   The torso section  100  includes a cushion  160  that is retained by a torso support member  162  shown in  FIG. 4  as having a central U-shaped channel  164  and two horizontally extending side pieces  166  and  168 . The side pieces rest on a stop member  165  that is mounted to frame  122  by a suitable bracket  167  which, as shown in  FIG. 2 , can extend across and be connected between frames  120  and  122 . 
   The seat  102  also includes a cushion  170  that is held in place, for example, by being screwed to two retainer members  172  and  174  that are welded to or screwed to, and extend across, the two frame elements  120  and  122  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   Handle bars  180  and  182  are also attached to the torso support  162  by being screwed thereto using a bracket  184  and a plate  186  that is welded to the handle bars. 
   The linkage assembly  110  begins with a main linkage member  200  that extends axially benesth and along the frame elements  120  and  122 , and comprises an elongated foot section  202 , and a head end or section  204 . The head section  204  includes an angled, main pivot connection arm  206  that extends outwardly at an obtuse angle of about 145° from the rear portion of the head end  204 , or at an acute angle of about 45° from the elongated foot section  202  depending upon which angle is being measured. This is best shown in  FIG. 4 . The distal or outer end of the connection arm  206  is pivotally connected between the frame elements  120  and  122  by being mounted on a cross-beam or pivot tube  208 , thus making the center of that cross beam or pivot tube  208  a pivot point, with cross beam  208  being operatively connected by bearings to each of the frame elements  120  and  122  so that the main linkage member  200  is pivotally movable relative to the frame elements  120  and  122 . 
   The main linkage member  200  is shown in the Figures as being formed from two, plates, for example  202   a  and  202   b  as in  FIG. 5 , that can be welded together by using suitable welded spacers (not shown). It should be understood, however, that only one of these plates could be used, for example only  202   a  or  202   b . This would make the bench lighter in weight, yet provide suitable strength to properly allow full operation and use of the bench. 
   The main linkage member  200  is pivotally connected at two points to the torso support member  162 , which collectively comprise a linkage assembly that operatively interconnects the upper torso assembly and the frame. The first of these two pivotal points is comprised of a pair of links  210  and  212  that extend between the upper section  204  and the channel  164  and pivotal connections  211  and  213 . These links  210  and  212  can be separate links or they can be interconnected by a cross bar and formed as an H-shaped link. Suitable bearings are used at each of the pivot connections. 
   The second pivotal connection between the torso support member  162  and the main linkage member  200  is comprised by a pair of boomerang shaped links  214  and  216 . These boomerang shaped links  214  and  216  each have three pivot type connection points, one at each end and a third at the center thereof. The upper ends of links  214  and  216  are pivotally connected at a point  215  on the rear end of the torso support member  162 . A center point  217  of links  214  and  216  is pivotally connected to the main linkage member  200 , at a point near the base of the connection arm  206 , that point being about where the connection arm  206  joins the main linkage member  200 . The lower ends of each of links  214  and  216  are connected to a cross-bar or pivot tube  218  that is welded, or otherwise operatively mounted between the lower ends of the links  214  and  216  and by bearings pivotally connected at a pivot point  219  to the lower ends of a separate and second pair of boomerang links  220  and  222 . The interior angle between the arms of links  214  and  216  is about 60°. 
   This second pair of boomerang links  220  and  222  are turned backwards relative to boomerang links  214  and  216 , and they also have three pivotal connection points, one being at their lower ends at the connection point  219  to the boomerang shaped links  214  and  216 . The second connection point for links  220  and  222  is at their center  221  where they are pivotally connected to the head or front end of a hitch member  230  that includes a pivot tube or cross-beam  231  shown in  FIG. 4 . It should be noted that this head end of hitch member  230  is connected to the central pivot point  221  and that it is not connected to the foot section of the main linkage  200  or to the frame. The third pivotal connection point for links  220  and  222  is at their upper ends where they are connected to a cross-beam or pivot tube  224  that is operatively mounted, by suitable bearings, between the frame elements  120  and  122  just to the rear, which is toward the foot end of the bench, of cross beam  208 . This separate set of links  220  and  222  provides a separate pivotal connection between the linkage assembly connecting the torso assembly  100  to the frame members  120  and  122 . The torso assembly  100  thus pivots relative to the frame elements  120  and  122  about both cross beams or pivot points  208  and  224 , as is shown in  FIG. 3 . The interior angle between the boomerang arms of links  220  and  222  is about 45°. 
   The opposite end of hitch member  230  is pivotally connected to an upper part of a pair of mounting wings  240  and  242  by a cross beam  244 . The mounting wings  240  and  242  are provided at, and preferably facing upwardly from, an interior end of the main L-shaped foot assembly beam  250  of the foot assembly  104  which is, in turn, pivotally connected by cross beam  252 , and by suitable bearings described below, between frame elements  120  and  122 . Thus, hitch member  230  interconnects and links the torso section  100  to the foot assembly  104  so that they each interact with the other as the bench is used in crunch exercises. This L-shaped foot assembly beam  250  will rest in its unmoved position on a stop  251  that is connected to a bracket  253  that is welded or otherwise attached between frames  120  and  122 . 
   As representative of each of the pivot connections used on the present invention, reference is made to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  14 . The end of each cross beam, for example  252 , includes either a bronze bushing or a bearing member  254  that can, for example, include an outer flange  255 , and an internal cylindrical bearing  256  that will fit over a pin or rod type connection, or onto or into a complementary member or connection on the frame member  120  and  122 , or another support member. The bearings can be, for example, a DryLin bearing, such as a bearing type TJUM-03 manufactured by IGUS, an R-Linear plain bearing or a split linear bearing. All that is required is that each of the pivot connections be made in a manner that permits the two engaged members to pivot relative to the frame or to a structure on which the pivoting member is attached. 
   The main linkage member  200  also includes mounting brackets  260  and  262  at opposite ends that support opposite ends of a weight support tube  270  on which the weight assembly  108  is support and on which it can slide. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  9  and  10 , the sliding weight according to his present invention will be further understood. The concept of using a sliding weight was first disclosed in my &#39;154 patent where that weight had its movement and location controlled by a pin arrangement. The weight could be moved relative to a central torso pivot point, where a weight effect was neutral, so that as the weight was moved on one side or the other of that pivot point either positive resistance or negative resistance weight effects could be established. An earlier version of this sliding weight was also used in my second ab bench patent, the &#39;203 patent where movement and positioning of the weight was controlled by a knob and a pressure plate and in my &#39;154 patent where a push type locking pin was used. Here the weight assembly  108  is further modified by having a plurality of weights, and by an improved and modified locking mechanism. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 6  the weight assembly  108  is comprised of a main weight  300 , which can vary from about 30 pounds to about 45 pounds. This main weight  300  is provided with a through bore  301  through which the support tube  270  passes. In addition, a slide bearing  303  is mounted at each end of the bore  301 , and over tube  270 , so that weight  300  can easily slide along tube  270 . The lower portion of weight  300  can be provided with threaded holes to receive therein bolts  302  and  304  that can be used to mount additional weights, as are shown, for example, at  306  and  308 , by passing through apertures  307  and  309 , respectively. These extra or add-on weights  306  and  308  can vary in weight from about 10 to 15 pounds each so that, for example, if the main weight was 35 pounds and two 15 pound add-on weights were used the total weight might be 65 pounds. It might be noted that the add-on weights can have beveled outer sides, indicated at  310  and  312  in  FIG. 6 , so that as the bench is used, and as the torso section  100  moves from a horizontal position as in  FIG. 2  to a crunch position and the main linkage member  200  pivots, as in  FIG. 3 , the weight will not hit the floor as the weight also move along an arc beneath the bench. This assumes that the weight assembly  108  is positioned at its fully negative resistance position at the foot end of the weight support tube  270 , adjacent mounting bracket  262 . In this regard, the neutral point is located between pivot points  208  and  224 . Thus, as the weight assembly is moved toward mounting bracket  262  the weight will provide increasing levels of negative resistance. Conversely, as the weight assembly  108  is moved from the neutral point toward mounting bracket  260  increasing levels of positive resistance will be provided, with the full positive resistance being achieved with weight  300  adjacent mounting bracket  260 . 
   In addition, the add-on weights  306  and  308  have flat upper surfaces,  314  and  316 , respectively, to permit a close fitting relationship to one another and to the bottom of the main weight  300 . 
     FIG. 9  shows a new locking mechanism for the weight assembly  108 . This locking mechanism includes a knob  320 , a first barrel  322 , a second barrel  324  having a threaded internal bore  326 , a threaded rod  328  and a compression type coil spring  330  that is mounted so as to be effective to operate between the two barrels  322  and  324  in a way that will tend to push them apart. Coil spring is preferably about 1,25 inches long, has an outer diameter of about 7/16 th  inches and an inner diameter of about ⅜ th  inches with a compression of about 17 psi. As shown in  FIG. 10 , there is a circular recess  332  formed in the facing ends of barrels  322  and  324  in which the spring  330  can be received, and there is a transversely extending bore  334  within weight  300  in which the locking mechanism can be received. The facing ends of the two barrels  322  and  324  also include a semi-circular cut out area  336  that will mirror, and fit around, the outer circumference of the weight support tube  270 .  FIG. 10  also shows that the main weight  300  includes a hole  338  that extends down the axial length of weight  300  and above the transversely extending bore  326 . The support tube  270  fits within bore  336  in a sliding manner.  FIG. 10  shows the second barrel  324  filly closed against barrel  322 . In use, the second barrel  324  would be located further away from barrel  322  so that the semi-circular cut out in barrel  324  was aligned with the bore  326 . Once tube  270  was within bore  326 , knob  320  will be turned which turns the treaded rod  328  in barrel  324 . This will pull barrel  324  toward the knob  320  until the semi-circular cut out fits tightly against the exterior of tube  270  thereby locking the weight assembly in a selected position on the tube  270 . 
   The present ab bench also includes a novel foot assembly  104  that is shown in detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . It should be noted that this foot assembly can be used on this ab bench as well as on a variety of other types of exercise equipment where a foot holder or foot support would be useful. 
   The foot assembly  104  is located at an outer end  350  of the foot beam  250 , and the foot assembly  104  can be positioned in a number of positions as is shown by the dotted arrow  352  in  FIG. 1 . In my &#39;203 patent there was a movable foot section that was able to be raised and lowered, but the rotational movement was limited to six inches of movement between three positions, with that limited movement being slightly off line from the vertical and vertically centered on the leg end of the foot brace. Here the foot assembly is provided with a range of movement through about an arc ranging from about 120° to about 200°, with the preferred arc of movement being about 180 degrees as shown in  FIG. 1  by the dotted line arrow. Thus, the foot assembly can face fully away from a bench user, as is shown in full line in  FIG. 1 , it can directly face the bench user, as is shown by the dotted line representation in  FIG. 1 . Similarly, the foot assembly  104  can be positioned at a number of intermediate positions there between. The foot assembly  104  includes four cylindrical foot cushions,  360 ,  362 ,  364  and  366 , that are slidably mounted over and fixed to the opposing ends of cross beams  370  and  372  that extend outwardly through, and are supported by, a pair of mounting plates  374  and  376 . In particular, plates  374  and  376  are shaped to include a lower portion  377  and a pair of obliquely extending mounting arms  378  and  380 . Thus, the cross beams  370  and  372  and the foot cushions  360 - 366  that are supported thereby are supported by two pairs of outwardly extending arms  378  and  380 . The lower portion  377  of each plate  374  and  376  is rotatably mounted at the outer end  350  of the foot beam  250  by a bolt and a pivot connection  382 . A locking-pin assembly  384  is mounted between plates  374  and  376  via a welded holder  386 , and cooperates with a circular ring  387  that is welded or otherwise fixed to the outer end  350 . Ring  387  is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart holes in which the locking pin  388  can be received. 
   This foot assembly  104  provides a greater range of motion for the foot assembly than was previously possible, and allows the bench to better accommodate a wider range of user sizes so that users who are short, of an average size as well as taller users can all comfortably perform crunch type exercises on the bench. For example, with the foot assembly  104  positioned as shown in dotted line in  FIG. 1 , the foot assembly will be set at a position closest to the user lying on the bench. This setting will provide foot support and the best range of motion for a user whose height ranges from about 4.5 feet to about 5.5 feet. With the buttocks of a user resting on the seat  170 , and the upper torso against the cushion  160 , placing one&#39;s feet on the foot assembly  104  and within cushions  360 - 366 , permits that shorter user to do crunches without undue strain on the lower back, on the cervical spine, the quadriceps or the ham string muscles. This multi-pivot foot system will help isolate the core abdominal muscle groups with acceptable strain on the other portions of the body. 
   While there are settings between full forward and vertical, when the foot assembly is positioned in a vertical facing position, half way through the arc of movement, the foot assembly  104  will be in a location suitable for a user who is about 5.5 feet tall to about 6 feet. With the foot assembly in the full back or the full line position shown in  FIG. 1 , the foot assembly will accommodate users taller than 6 feet. Here again, there are additional intermediate positions that can be set between the vertical and full rearward facing locations, and these intermediate settings will allow individual users to find the setting that most accommodates their individual size and height. 
   An alternative embodiment of the present invention relating to a modified support member for the foot assembly  104  is comprised of a modified, two piece foot beam  400  as shown in  FIGS. 11-14 . This foot beam  400  is comprised of an outer section  402  and an inner section  404  that will preferably be bolted together. The outer section  402  is constructed from two side panels  406  and  408  that are welded to a front panel  410  and a rear panel  412 , as well as a bottom plate  414  and a brace or support plate  416 . A multi-apertured positioning ring  418  is welded between side panels  406  and  408  at the top thereof. Also as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  a plurality of bolt holes  420  are provided in both the bottom portion of side panels  406  and  408  and along the center of bottom plate  414 . 
   The inner section  404  is comprised of a square tubular section  430  with a pivot tube  432 , welded to one end of the tubular section  430 , and a pair of joint plates  434  and  436  each of which is welded to the tubular section  430  and are provided with an aperture  438  and  440 , respectively, that will allow an end of hitch plate  230  to be pivotally connected to the foot beam  400 . As with the beam  250 , the hitch member  230  interconnects the torso section  100  to the foot assembly  104  so that they operate in unison as the bench is used. In addition, a plurality of bolt holes  442  are provided adjacent the end of tubular section  430  opposite from pivot tube  432  so that holes  442  will align with holes  420  thereby permitting the inner section  404  to be bolted to the outer section  402 . 
   To form the ab bench into a sit-up system it is possible and important to be able to disengage the foot assembly from the torso section. Thus, rather than having both the torso and foot assembly move together, or cooperatively, the torso section could move independently from the foot assembly. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16  show a modified foot assembly  500  connection to the torso assembly. This modified foot assembly  500  includes the same cushioned end of the foot assembly  104  shown in detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , and could include either the foot beam  250  of a first embodiment of the foot assembly, or the two piece mechanism comprised of the outer and inner sections,  402  and  404 , respectively, of the second embodiment of the foot support. For convenience, the second embodiment is being referenced hereinafter to describe the modification of the connection to the frame and torso section  100 . 
   The major modification is to replace the hitch member  230 , which links the foot assembly  104  to the torso assembly, with a two piece structure. One of those pieces is a machined or formed member  502  having one end  501  pivotally connected between joint plates  4343  and  436  by a pin  505 . The other end of member  502  includes a slot  503  defined between end pieces  507 . The other piece of the two piece structure is a bar  504  pivotally connected to the center point  221  of boomerang links  220  and  222  by a cross-beam (not shown) that replaces beam  231 . Bar  504  also includes an aperture  510 . The end pieces  507  also include an aperture  514 , shown in  FIG. 15 . A locking pin  512  is also provided for interconnecting member  502  and bar  504  by passing through apertures  510  and  514 . When that arrangement exists, the foot assembly  500  will be connected to the torso section  100 . 
   However, when locking pin  512  is removed from apertures  510  and  514 , member  502  and bar  504  will be disconnected permitting bar  504  to drop downwardly into the position shown in  FIG. 15  and permits member  502  to be raised upwardly so that slot  503  fits around a depending support member  506  that is welded to the retainer strap  174  and which includes aperture  508 . Locking pin  512  can then be inserted into aperture  514  and through aperture  508  thereby locking member  502  to the bottom of retainer  174 . This fully disengages the foot assembly  500  from the torso section  100  and permits a user to use only the torso section  100  together with the desired weight  108 . 
   While the linkage assembly is shown as including a pair of links  210  and  211 , a pair of boomerang links  214  and  216 , and a separate set of boomerang links  220  and  222 , it should be understood that each of these pairs of links could be comprised of only one link member, for example links  210 ,  214  and  220 , rather than a pair of each of these link members. Where the main linkage member  202   a  is comprised of a single plate, such as  202   a , then these single links would be used with the single plate  202   a.    
   It is preferred to construct the bench from metal plate stock, for example 5/16ths for steel and ⅝ ths for resins and for aluminum castings the thickness would be about 1.2 inch, and metal components, including castings, aluminum castings, cast iron. However, there are many reinforced resins and plastic materials that could be used for specific parts or for that matter the entire bench where suitable weight and strength are provided. Where resin or plastic parts are to be used, suitable molds for their manufacture would have to be built and this is within the skill of one of ordinary skill in plastic and resin manufacturing procedures. In addition, it is preferred that the cross beams are about one inch tubes, and the pivot bearings are preferably as described above, so that each cross beam is a pivot tube with bearings at each end. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.