Abstract:
A combination gravity inversion exercise machine and abdominal crunch exercise machine which enables a user to perform both exercises in one machine. The machine enables a user to save exercise floor space and perform the two different exercises on the same machine to thereby make an exercise session more efficient. The machine combines the features of a gravity inversion machine which enables a user to lie inverted for a period of time to take pressure off the back muscles and also has the features of an abdominal crunch which enables a user to exercise and tighten stomach muscles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of exercise machines and in particular to exercise machines which help alleviate back pain by causing the body to lie inverted for a period of time to take pressure off the back muscles and also to exercise machines which enable a user to perform abdominal crunch exercises to tighten stomach muscles and reduce the user&#39;s waistline. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, there are numerous types of exercise machines on the market. One type of machine is a gravity inversion machine which enables a user to be supported on the machine and then by shifting the user&#39;s weight, causing the machine to rotate so that the user is supported with the user&#39;s head projecting toward the ground and the user&#39;s feet in the air to invert the posture of the user. This enables the user to take pressure off the user&#39;s back muscles and spine to help reduce back pain. 
     There are also individual abdominal crunch machines on the market which enable a user to raise the user&#39;s feet toward his/her chest or enable the user to bend forward while the user is seated to thereby exercise the user&#39;s abdominal muscles to strengthen the user&#39;s abdominal muscles and reduce the user&#39;s weight. 
     However, there is no combination machine which combines the above two features. There is a significant need for such a machine to enable a user to save exercise floor space and perform the two different exercises on the same machine to thereby make an exercise session more efficient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a combination gravity inversion exercise machine and abdominal crunch exercise machine which enables a user to perform both exercises in one machine. The machine enables a user to save exercise floor space and perform the two different exercises on the same machine to thereby make an exercise session more efficient. The machine combines the features of a gravity inversion machine which enables a user to lie inverted for a period of time to take pressure off the back muscles and also has the features of an abdominal crunch which enables a user to exercise and tighten stomach muscles. 
     One portion of the present invention exercise machine is a gravity inversion machine which enables a user to be supported on the machine and then by shifting the user&#39;s weight, causing the machine to rotate so that the user is supported with the user&#39;s head projecting toward the ground and the user&#39;s feet in the air to invert the posture of the user. This enables the user to take pressure off the user&#39;s back muscles and spine to help reduce back pain. The machine can also be rotated so that user is resting on the machine in an almost horizontal position with the user&#39;s legs held tightly so that the user can rotate his/her torso toward his/her legs to exercise the user&#39;s upper stomach muscles. The user can also support himself/herself on the machine to enable the user to raise his/her legs toward&#39;s his/her torso to also exercise the user&#39;s lower abdominal muscles. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a combination gravity inversion exercise machine and abdominal crunch exercise machine which enables a user to perform both exercises in one machine. The machine enables a user to save exercise floor space and perform the two different exercises on the same machine to thereby make an exercise session more efficient. The machine combines the features of a gravity inversion machine which enables a user to lie inverted for a period of time to take pressure off the back muscles and also has the features of an abdominal crunch which enables a user to exercise and tighten stomach muscles. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention combination abdominal crunch and body inversion exercise machine set up for an inversion exercise; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a user on the present invention exercise machine with the machine in the starting position for an inversion exercise work out, the user lying with his/her back against a back support with arms adjacent the user&#39;s side and the user&#39;s feet secured in foot supports; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a user on the present invention exercise machine with the machine in the fully inverted position for a full inversion exercise work out, with the user&#39;s arms extending adjacent opposite sides of the user&#39;s head; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention combination abdominal crunch and body inversion exercise machine set up for an abdominal crunch exercise; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a user on the present invention exercise machine with the machine in the starting position for an abdominal crunch exercise work out; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a user on the present invention exercise machine with the machine oriented for a full abdominal exercise work out. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a perspective view of the present invention combination abdominal crunch and body inversion exercise machine  10  set up for an inversion exercise. In this configuration, the machine  10  is comprised of a first support angle leg section  20  having a first longitudinal section  22 , a parallel and spaced apart second longitudinal section  24  and a bottom interconnecting section  26 . The machine  10  is also comprised of a second support angle leg section  30  having a first longitudinal section  32 , a parallel and spaced apart second longitudinal section  34  a bottom interconnecting section  36  and an intermediate cross-bar connecting section  38 . The two support angle leg sections  20  and  30  are interconnected by first hinged connecting member  40  having a first bar  42  with a distal end  43  connected to first longitudinal section  22  of first support angle leg section  20 , a second bar  44  with a distal end  45  connected to first longitudinal section  32  of second support angle leg section  30  and a hinge member  49  interconnecting respective proximal ends  46  and  47  of bars  42  and  44 . Similarly, the two support angle leg sections  20  and  30  are interconnected by second hinged connecting member  50  having a first bar  52  with a distal end  53  connected to second longitudinal section  24  of first support angle leg section  20 , a second bar  54  with a distal end  55  connected to second longitudinal section  34  of second support angle leg section  30  and a hinge member  59  interconnecting respective proximal ends  56  and  57  of bars  52  and  54 . First inversion handle bar  60  is connected to a plate  61  located at an upper end of first longitudinal section  22  and has a connecting portion  62 , a horizontal portion  64  and a longitudinal gripping portion  66 . Second inversion handle bar  70  is connected to a plate  71  located at an upper end of first longitudinal section  32  and has a connecting portion  72 , a horizontal portion  74  and a longitudinal gripping portion  76 . First abdominal crunch handle bar  104  is connected to a plate  105  located at an upper end of second longitudinal section  24  and has a connecting portion  106  and a longitudinal gripping portion  108 . Second abdominal crunch handle bar  114  is connected to a plate  115  located at an upper end of second longitudinal section  34  and has a connecting portion  116  and a longitudinal gripping portion  118 . 
     Rotatably supported between the supporting angle leg sections  20  and  30  is a back support  80  having a pad  82  and a horizontal member rotatably connected to plates  21  and  31  on respective support angle leg sections  20  and  30 . Extending from the back support  80  is a height adjustment leg tube  84  terminating in a foot plate  86  and having at least one and preferably two foot retaining members  87  and  88  spaced apart from foot plate  86 . The foot plate  86  is adjustably affixed to foot plate adjustment bar  86 A. Foot retaining member  87  is supported on dowel  88 A which extends through height adjustment leg tube  84 . Foot retaining member  88  is supported on dowel  88 BB which extends through adjustable transverse bar  88 B. The height adjustment leg tube  84  has adjustment member  85  whereby the length “L’ to the height adjustment tube can be increased or decreased to accommodate the length of the user&#39;s legs. The height adjustment leg tube  84  also rests on intermediate cross-bar connecting section  38 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a side view of a user  200  on the present invention exercise machine  10  with the machine in the starting position for an inversion exercise work out. The user&#39;s back  210  rests against the pad  82  of back support  80  and the user&#39;s feet  220  and  222  rest on foot plate  86  with the user&#39;s feet retained between foot retaining members  87  and  88 . The user&#39;s legs  290 ,  292  extend away from the back support  80 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a side view of a user on the present invention exercise machine  10  with the machine in the fully inverted position for a full inversion exercise work out. The user&#39;s hands  230  and  232  and arms  240 ,  242  respectively start at an initial position on the side of the body  270 . The user  200  raises one arm ( 240 ,  242 ) at a time to initiate the inversion exercise workout. The user can grip the longitudinal gripping portion  66  and  76  of the inversion handle bars  60  and  70  with the user&#39;s hands  230  and  232  to help assist during the inversion exercise workout. The back arm handlebars  60  and  70  are used to assist the user  200  in case the user  200  is not familiar with the system or it is also used to bring the user&#39;s hands back to the initial position. It is not mandatory for the user  200  to use the back arm handle bars  60  and  70  for the inversion system. The handle bars  60  and  70  are only there for any additional assistance that may be required. 
     The user  200  causes his/her weight to shift so that the horizontal member  83  is rotated so that back support  80 , height adjustment leg tube  84 , foot plate  86  and foot retaining members  87  and  88  are rotated so that the user  200  is supported with the user&#39;s head  250  projecting toward the ground and the user&#39;s feet  220  and  222  are in the air to invert the posture of the user  200 . The user&#39;s arms  240  and  242  are adjacent opposite sides of the user&#39;s support  80 , height adjustment leg tube  84 , foot plate  86  and foot retaining members  87  and  88  are returned to the position as illustrated in  FIG. 2  so that user is in the normal angled position with the user&#39;s feet  220 ,  222  adjacent the ground and the user&#39;s head  250  in the air. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated the present invention exercise machine  10  set up for an abdominal crunch exercise. The only difference between this set-up and the set-up as illustrated in  FIG. 1  for a gravity inversion exercise is that the intermediate cross-bar connecting section  38  has been removed so that the height adjustment leg tube  84  does not rest against it and the assembly of the back support  80 , height adjustment leg tube  84 , foot plate  86  and at least one and preferably two foot retaining members  87  an  88  are free to rotate so that they are vertically oriented as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, the cross-bar connecting section  38  may be repositioned so it will not stop the height adjustment leg tube  84  in the proper location to initiate the ab-crunch workout, or the height adjustment leg tube  84  can be repositioned. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated a side view of a user on the present invention exercise machine  10  with the machine in the starting position for an abdominal crunch exercise work out. The user&#39;s back  210  rests against the pad  82  of back support  80  and the user&#39;s feet  220  and  222  rest on foot plate  86  and are retained between foot retaining members  87  and  88 . The only difference between this position and the position illustrated in  FIG. 2  is that in  FIG. 5  the user  200  is vertically oriented while in  FIG. 2  the user  200  was at a 45 degree angle to the horizontal because the height adjustment leg tube  84  was retained against the intermediate cross-bar connecting section  38 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the user  200  holds the longitudinal gripping portion  108  of first abdominal crunch handle bar  106  in the user&#39;s right hand  230  and holds the longitudinal gripping portion  118  of the second abdominal crunch handle bar  114  is the user&#39;s left hand  232  and causes the user&#39;s weight to shift so that the back support  80  is rotated so that the user is almost horizontally aligned on the machine  10 . The user then rotates his torso  270  towards his legs  290 ,  292  to exercise his stomach muscles. The user can also release his feet from the at least one or two foot retaining members  87  and  88  and tightly gripping the longitudinal griping portions  108  and  118  cause his legs  290  and  292  to rotate towards his stomach  280  to provide another abdominal exercise. 
     Therefore, through the use of the present invention, the user can perform both gravity inversion exercises and abdominal crunch exercises on the same machine. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.