Abstract:
A hip thrusting exercise machine is an apparatus that allows a user to safety perform a hip thrusting exercise in a controlled manner. The apparatus includes a backrest, an abdominal brace, a feet brace, an elongated frame, and a recoiling mechanism. The feet brace and the back rest allows the apparatus to properly hold the user&#39;s body in place while the user is performing the hip thrusting exercise. The abdominal brace is pressed against by the user&#39;s pelvic region in order to perform the hip thrusting exercise. The recoiling mechanism provides the user with physical resistance as the user pushes to raise the abdominal brace from a resting position to a vertically higher position. The coiling mechanism also returns the abdominal brace from the vertically higher position to the resting position so that the user can repeat the hip thrusting exercise.

Description:
[0001]    The current application is a continuation-in-part of the PCT application PCT/IB2015/056672 filed on Oct. 16, 2015. The PCT application PCT/IB2015/056672 claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application 62/041,250 filed Aug. 25, 2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to an exercise apparatus that enables a user to perform hip strengthening exercises in a horizontal position while minimizing the risk of injury. More specifically, the present invention facilitates hip thrust exercises that work the gluteal muscles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Hip thrusts are usually a free weight exercise that is performed without the assistance of a machine. A common method for performing a hip thrust begins with a person reclining horizontally on a bench, balancing a weight on their hips, and pushing the weight upwards (i.e. in a vertical direction) with the hips. There is a danger of the weight falling off the person or the person not being able to sustain the weight, resulting in the person falling back to the bench and the weight injuring their body. Additionally, there can be certain discomfort when performing variations associate with either the bar or the bench. The bar can be difficult to manage and bigger (and thus heavier) plates may be needed to provide sufficient clearance for a person to position their hips below the bar. 
         [0004]    The present invention provides a novel solution to these problems by providing a means to stop weights from injuring a person during hip thrust exercises. The present invention has built-in mechanical checks that prevent the weight from falling off the person doing the exercises and stops the weight from impacting and injuring the hips or abdomen. The present invention allows a user to do hip and gluteal muscle-strengthening exercises in a horizontal position without risking serious injury, which is important because injury due to the improper positioning of a barbell can seriously damage one&#39;s back. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an overall view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a hand-drawn sketch showing basic construction and configuration for the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3A  is a hand-drawn sketch showing a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3B  is a hand-drawn sketch showing a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing basic construction and configuration for a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8A  is a picture showing a person initiating a hip thrust exercise without use of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8B  is a picture showing a person at the top of a hip thrust exercise without use of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0016]    The present invention is a hip thrusting exercise machine that allows a user to perform the hip thrusting exercise in a more controlled manner. The present invention can be used to condition the gluteus maximus, hamstrings, and hip stabilizing muscles without risking injury due to the weight falling on the hips, abdomen, or on to the floor. The present invention comprises a backrest  1 , an abdominal brace  2 , a feet brace  3 , an elongated frame  4 , and a recoiling mechanism  5 . The elongated frame  4  is the structural base of the present invention and allows the other components of the present invention to be connected together. The feet brace  3  is used to fix the user&#39;s feet at one location on the present invention, while the backrest  1  is used to press the user&#39;s back against the present invention. Furthermore, the feet brace  3  and the backrest  1  allow the user to be situated in a supine posture while performing the hip thrusting exercise with the present invention. In order to perform the hip thrusting exercise, the user presses their pelvic region against the abdominal brace  2  in order to lift the abdominal brace  2  from a resting position to a vertically higher position. The abdominal brace  2  is typically oriented perpendicular to the user&#39;s height. The recoiling mechanism  5  is used to provide the user with physical resistance as the user moves the abdominal brace  2  from the resting position to the vertically higher position during the hip thrusting exercise. The recoiling mechanism  5  is also used to return the abdominal brace  2  from the vertically higher position to the resting position so that the user can repeat the hip thrusting exercise with the present invention. The recoiling mechanism  5  preferably utilizes some kind of weights to resist the movement of the abdominal brace  2  from its resting position. However, the recoiling mechanism  5  could utilize some kind of spring system as well. 
         [0017]    The general configuration of these components allows the user to efficiently and effectively perform the hip thrusting exercise with the present invention. Thus, the backrest  1  is terminally mounted to the elongated frame  4 , and the feet brace  3  is laterally mounted to the elongated frame  4 , offset from the backrest  1 . This configuration between the feet brace  3 , the backrest  1 , and the elongated frame  4  allows the user to align the height of their body along the length of the present invention as the user is situated in a supine posture on the present invention. The abdominal brace  2  is positioned in between the backrest  1  and the feet brace  3  so that the abdominal brace  2  is anatomically aligned to engage the user&#39;s pelvis. The abdominal brace  2  is also positioned offset from the elongated frame  4 , which allows the user to fit their body in between the abdominal brace  2  and the elongated frame  4 . Moreover, the abdominal brace  2  is operatively coupled to the elongated frame  4  by the recoiling mechanism  5  so that the recoiling mechanism  5  is able to recoil an offsetting movement made by the abdominal brace  2  away from the elongated frame  4 . As mentioned before, the offsetting movement is the movement of the abdominal brace  2  from the resting position to the vertically higher position. 
         [0018]    The recoiling mechanism  5  can be designed in a variety of configurations to accommodate the functionality of the present invention. However, two embodiments of the recoiling mechanism  5  are described hereinafter. The first embodiment of the recoiling mechanism  5  comprises a lever  51 , at least one pulley  52 , a cable  55 , and a weight stack  56 . The lever  51  is used to guide the movement of the abdominal brace  2 . The lever  51  also allows the present invention to convert the linear motion of the abdominal brace  2  during the hip thrusting exercise into rotational motion about a fulcrum  511  of the lever  51 . Thus, the abdominal brace  2  needs to be terminally mounted to the lever  51 , and the fulcrum  511  of the lever  51  needs to be pivotably mounted to the elongated frame  4 , offset from the abdominal brace  2 . This configuration between the lever  51 , the abdominal brace  2 , and the elongated frame  4  allows the user to apply the mechanical leverage that is required to lift the weight stack  56  during the hip thrusting exercise. Moreover, the cable  55  and at least one pulley  52  are used to convert the rotational motion about the fulcrum  511  of lever  51  into linear motion that is needed to lift the weight stack  56 . Consequently, the at least one pulley  52  is rotatably mounted to the elongated frame  4 , and the cable  55  is tensionably engaged to the at least one pulley  52  so that the linear motion of lifting the weight stack  56  is able to simultaneously occur with the linear motion of the abdominal brace  2 . In addition, the weight stack  56  can be incrementally increased or decreased in weight according the user&#39;s preferences on how much resistance should be applied to the abdominal brace  2  in order to perform the hip thrusting exercise. The weight stack  56  needs to be torsionally tethered about the fulcrum  511  of the lever  51  by the cable  55  so that the rotational motion of the fulcrum  511  allows the cable  55  to pull the weight stack  56  in an upward direction. 
         [0019]    The second embodiment of the recoiling mechanism  5  comprises a track  53 , an even number of pulleys  54 , a cable  55 , and a weight stack  56 . The track  53  is used to guide the movement of the abdominal brace  2 . The track  53  is mounted onto the elongated frame  4  at a lifting angle  101 , and the abdominal brace  2  is slidably connected along the track  53 , which allows the track  53  to remain fixed at the lifting angle  101  as the abdominal brace  2  is moved by the user. The lifting angle  101  is preferably  90  degrees between the track  53  and the elongated frame  4  in order to optimize the user&#39;s workout on the present invention. Moreover, each of the even number of pulleys  54  is rotatably mounted to the elongated frame  4 , and the cable  55  is tensionably engaged to each of the even number of pulleys  54 . This allows the weight stack  56  to be tethered to the abdominal brace  2  by the cable  55 . The second embodiment of recoiling mechanism  5  needs the even number of pulleys  54  because an even number of pulleys allows the tension felt at opposite ends of the cable  55  to be in the same direction. Consequently, the weight stack  56  is pulled in an upward direction by the cable  55  as the abdominal brace  2  pulls on the cable  55  in the same upward direction. 
         [0020]    In both the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention, the recoiling mechanism  5  further comprises a protective structure  57 , which houses the weight stack  56 . The protective structure  57  is used to prevent injuries to the user or other nearby individuals from the linear motion of the weight stack  56 . Also both the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention, the recoiling mechanism  5  may optionally comprise a pulley enclosure in order either to house the at least one pulley  52  from the first embodiment of the recoiling mechanism  5  or to house the even number of pulleys  54  from the second embodiment of the recoiling mechanism  5 . 
         [0021]    The present invention may further comprise a seat  6 , which would allow the user to rest their buttocks against the seat  6  while the abdominal brace  2  is in the resting position. The seat  6  needs to be positioned in between the abdominal brace  2  and the elongated frame  4  and needs to be mounted adjacent to the elongated frame  4 . This configuration of the seat  6  allows the user to be conformably situated in the supine posture while resting on the present invention. 
         [0022]    The feet brace  3  needs to be able to secure the user&#39;s feet at one location on the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the feet brace  3  comprises a first left support  31 , a first right support  32 , a second left support  33 , a second right support  34 , and a structural post  35 . The first left support  31  and the second left support  33  are used to secure the user&#39;s left foot. Similarly, the first right support  32  and the second right support  34  are used to secure the user&#39;s right foot. The structural post  35  is used as a stem to arrange the first left support  31 , the first right support  32 , the second left support  33 , and the second right support  34  on the elongated frame  4 . Thus, the first left support  31 , the first right support  32 , the second left support  33 , and the second right support  34  are laterally connected to the structural post  35 , which is mounted adjacent to the elongated frame  4 . Moreover, the first left support  31  and the second left support  33  are positioned offset from each other along the structural post  35  so that the user can fit their left foot in between the first left support  31  and the second left support  33 . Likewise, the first right support  32  and the second right support  34  are positioned offset from each other along the structural post  35  so that user can fit their right foot in between the first right support  32  and the second right support  34 . In addition, the first left support  31  and the first right support  32  are positioned opposite to each other about the structural post  35 , and the second left support  33  and the second right support  34  are positioned opposite to each other about the structural post  35 . This allows the gap formed between the first left support  31  and the second left support  33  and the gap formed between the first right support  32  and the second right support  34  to be aligned with each other so that user is able to comfortably rest their left and right feet within the feet brace  3 . 
         [0023]    In order to the present invention to be more comfortable while the user is performing the hip thrusting exercise, some components need to be configured as a rotatable padded body with a cylindrical shape. The abdominal brace  2  is one component that would benefit the user by being a rotatable padded body with a cylindrical shape because the user would be able to dynamically adjust their pelvis while pressing against the abdominal brace  2  without hurting themselves. In addition, the first left support  31 , the first right support  32 , the second left support  33 , and the second right support  34  are components that would benefit the user by being a rotatable padded body with a cylindrical shape because the user would be able to comfortably fit either their left foot in between the first left support  31  and the second left support  33  or their right foot in between the first right support  32  and the second right support  34  without hurting themselves. 
         [0024]    The present invention can be adjusted in a variety of ways in order to accommodate a user&#39;s unique metrics or a user&#39;s unique movements during the hip thrusting exercise. An incline adjustment mechanism  7  is operatively integrated between the backrest  1  and the elongated frame  4  and is used to adjust the incline angle  102  between the backrest  1  and the elongated frame  4 . The incline angle  102  could preferably adjust to be any angle less than  90  degrees. The incline adjustment mechanism  7  allows the user to adjust how flat he/she wants lie on the present invention while performing the hip thrusting exercise. The incline adjustment mechanism  7  is preferably a length-adjustable counterfort that is mounted in between the backrest  1  and the elongated frame  4 . Moreover, a positional adjustment mechanism  8  is operatively integrated between the feet brace  3  and the elongated frame  4  and is used to adjust a position of the feet brace  3  along the elongated frame  4 . The positional adjustment mechanism  8  allows the user to adjust the present invention according their own height so that a taller person would be able to move the feet brace  3  further from the backrest  1  and a shorter person would be able to move the feet brace  3  closer to the backrest  1 . The positional adjustment mechanism  8  is preferably the feet brace  3  being laterally connected a sleeve, which is slidably mounted about the elongated frame  4  and is held in place along the elongated frame  4  with a locking pin. 
         [0025]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.