Abstract:
An exercise apparatus in the form of a chair has a seat that is flexibly connected to a base such as with a helical spring that allows flexing in multiple directions. The chair has a base such as a plurality of legs so that it may be fixed with respect to a floor. The chair may include handlebars having handles positioned no higher than the height of the seat above the floor. A user may flex his or body so that the seat flexes with respect to the base and thereby exercise the user&#39;s core musculature.

Description:
I. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to exercise and fitness equipment, and related methods and programs for using the equipment, and more particularly to exercise equipment for home or personal use such as abdominal or cardiovascular workout machines such as rowing machines, treadmills, abdominal trainers, sit up boards, or other similar systems. 
       II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In modern culture, it is highly desirable for a person to obtain and retain a trim and strong physique. Likewise, it is advantageous to a person&#39;s health to habitually perform cardiovascular exercise and to exercise the person&#39;s core muscles (meaning the abdominal and back muscles). To these ends, people are continuously looking for exercise equipment that is easy, safe, fun, and effective for engaging the core muscles. A person&#39;s core muscles are made up of a set of muscle groups that facilitate movement such as bending forward or sideways at the waist, leaning backwards, and returning to an upright position from a bent position. 
         [0003]    Many of the exercise machines available are based on the traditional sit-up from a prone or near-prone position. Furthermore, many of the machines available restrict the user to movement in one or two directions, thus failing to engage the full set of abdominal muscles. There is a need for exercise equipment that allows for a user to exercise the core muscles in every relevant direction. 
         [0004]    There are many machines in this field that use complicated systems of weight, cables, and/or pulleys. Such systems are often large and expensive, and thus unsuitable for home use. There is a need for small, inexpensive home equipment that is easy to use, robust, effective, and relatively inexpensive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the seat mounting bracket,  110 , is not visible. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the same embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a close up of the central mounting plate  130 , with attached handle horizontal support  140 , and with four leg supports  170 , from the embodiment as seen from the floor. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a close up of the seat  100 , seat mounting bracket  110 , and spring  120 , from a preferred embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a user exercising according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention allows a user to effectively exercise his or her core muscles by using a seat attached to a base through a flexible means as described hereinbelow. The invention allows a user to exercise his or her core muscles in every direction. The seat takes up only a small area on the floor, is easy to use, and does not require expensive pulleys or weights. Therefore, it is appropriate for home ownership and use. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, a seat  100  is attached via fastening means such as screws or bolts to a seat mounting bracket  110 . The seat mounting bracket  110  is attached to a flexible support structure such as a helical spring  120 . Said bracket  110  may be attached to one end of the spring  120  through a weld or fastening means such as screws or other connectors. The other end of the flexible support structure  120  is attached to a central mounting plate  130  (which is shown in detail in  FIG. 3 ). Said mounting plate  130  is attached to a base, such as number of legs  170  supporting the seat  100  from the floor as well as handle bars  150  that terminate in a handle  160  for a user. In most embodiments, two handles would be preferable. A preferred starting position for a user on this embodiment would be seated on the seat  100 , such that there is a handle  160  on the left and right of the user, and the user&#39;s feet would be on the floor in front of the user and equidistant from either handle  160 . See  FIG. 5 . 
         [0012]    In a preferred embodiment, the seat  100  has a rectangular shape, as seen from directly above the chair, such that the seat is shorter in the direction perpendicular to chest of a seated user, and longer in the direction parallel to the seated user. Preferably, the length of the longer side of the seat  100  is about twice that of the shorter side. Additionally, the seat  100  may be curved such that the ends of the longer dimension of the seat are higher from the floor than is the middle of the seat. The rectangular and curved shape of the seat  100  facilitate the side to side rocking motion of the user. Furthermore, the corners of the seat  100  should be rounded to avoid scratching or injury. The seat  100  ideally should comprise or be padded such as with foam or cloth for user comfort. The seat of a preferred embodiment, as described here, can be seen in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, each handle bar  150  is connected to a horizontal support bar  140  which is welded or otherwise fixed to the mounting plate  130 . In one embodiment, the support bar is in a U-shape as shown in  FIG. 1 , having a central portion that is horizontal relative to the floor, with said central portion attached to the central mounting plate, and with the ends of the support bar tilted at an angle of roughly 25 degrees up from the floor. Specifically, a separate handle bar  160  can be attached to each end the horizontal support  140 . Additionally, each handle bar  150  may be attached in a telescoping manner so that the handle bars can be easily removed for storage, or such that the height of the handlebar adjusted to suit the user. 
         [0014]    The handle  160  can be a final portion of the handle bar, comprising a sufficient length of the bar so as to properly fit a hand of a user. The handle  160  may be formed by the final portion of the handle bar  150  bent at an angle from the rest of the handle bar such that the handle is parallel to the direction of the user&#39;s feet, that is, to the major axis of the seat  100 . In an alternate embodiment, the handle  160  might be formed perpendicular to the direction of the user&#39;s feet, that is, to the minor axis of the seat  100 . The handle  160  is preferably no higher than the seat itself, such that the users hand is lower than the seat  100  and several inches away from the seat. The handle  160  may comprise or be covered with a material such as foam, plastic, vinyl, cloth or a similar substance to increase the comfort and grip. 
         [0015]    The base of the chair can be attached to the central mounting plate  130  directly through a weld or other fastening means. The base may comprise a number of legs  180 , such as four, sufficient to provide a stable base. In a preferred embodiment, each leg  180  can be connected to leg support bars  170  that are directly welded to the central mounting plate  130  in a tubular telescoping manner, such that the height of the chair may be adjusted to suit the user. The legs  180  may also be designed for quick removal from the leg supports  170 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , for storage or transportation. The portion of the legs  180  that contact the ground are known as the feet  190 . Each foot  190  may simply comprise the final portion of the leg  180  bent toward the floor, or any other shape designed for stability. Each foot  190  may comprise or be coated with plastic or vinyl coating or cap to increase stability. In a preferred embodiment, the seat is fixed relative to the floor when the user is seated upon it (that is, the device does not have wheels or the like). 
         [0016]    A feature of the invention is that the seat is flexible in each direction relative to the central mounting plate. Thus, when a user is seated on the chair in a preferred starting position, the seat  100  can be flexed in a direction toward or away from the user&#39;s feet, toward or away from the user&#39;s side, or any combination thereof. That is, as facing the user in the typical position (see  FIG. 5 ), the seat can rotated in both pitch and roll directions around and with respect to the central mounting plate, and may have some flexibility in the yaw direction. The flexible connection, such as a spring, allows rotation in the pitch and roll directions in a flexible manner, such that the flexible connection apply a resistive force pulling the user back to the starting position. 
         [0017]    In a typical exercise routine, the user sits on the chair and repeatedly bends at the waist in order to engage the core muscles. The user can bend forward at the waist for a discrete number of repetitions, and then bend sideways to one side or the other for a number of repetitions. During these exercises, the user may or may not choose to hold onto the fixed handles of the machine. Gripping the handles increases the stability and balance of the exercise, but is not necessary in all cases. Alternatively, the user can raise and lower one or both knees while performing the waist bends, or as an isolated exercise. 
         [0018]    The user can also perform the various repetitions to music, which facilitates the orderly rhythm of the exercise. Specifically, the movements can be performed as though the user were accomplishing a dance while seated.