Abstract:
The exercise device uses three main components to provide a simplified abdominal exercise for the user. A base frame relaeasably supports two pivoting body support structures. The body support structures are pivotally secured to the frame at intermediate points in the length of the body support structures. The base frame is preferably collapsible to simplify securement and storage. Each body support structure is independently secured to the base frame. The user is able to perform exercises according to his own requirements merely by modifying the extent of movement of the body support structures.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an exercise device which is effective, convenient to use, relatively inexpensive and easily stored.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    There have been many exercise devices to assist a user to perform a sit up or other abdominal exercise. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,041 which includes a complicated set of linkages and elastic members which provide resistance to the pivoting movement. The structure is unduly complicated and intimidating to use.  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,317 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,047 disclose a different type of exercise device where the user sits on the device and causes a resilient member to move forwardly, rearwardly, and side to side. These devices exercise and strengthen the abdominal and lower back muscles, and are relatively portable. Unfortunately, with each of the devices, the portion of the body generally below the waist is stationary.  
           [0004]    There remains a need to provide a simple exercise device which is easy to use and is designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles, as well as the back muscles.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An exercise device according to the present invention is designed for supporting the body of a user and allowing the user to force the exercise device through a predetermined motion. The exercise device  
           [0006]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the stub segments have a separation of at least one and one half inches.  
           [0007]    In a preferred aspect of the invention, the stub segments each have a longer segment at one side thereof and a shorter segment at the opposite side thereof.  
           [0008]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the body support structures are releasably secured to the base frame.  
           [0009]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the frame includes inwardly directed pivot pins and the pivot supports include bearing members for attaching to the pivot pins.  
           [0010]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, each pivoting support includes at least one latch for positively maintaining said pivoting support on said frame.  
           [0011]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, each latch has a spring lock for maintaining the latch in the lock position.  
           [0012]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the frame includes two U-shaped side portions with the ends of the U-shaped portions pivotally connected to two floor engaging traversed members. Each floor engaging traversed member is pivotally connected at one end to one U-shaped portion and pivotally connected to the other U-shaped portion at the opposite end. The traversed members and the U-shaped portions cooperate to form a four bar linkage pivotable between an extended in use position and a collapsible folded condition.  
           [0013]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the frames are separated from the side of the body support structures by a distance of at least one and a half inches.  
           [0014]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the pivoting supports are generally rectangular like frames with a stretched support material extending across and secured to the rectangular like frames.  
           [0015]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, at least one of said body support structures at a free end thereof includes a floor engaging stop leg to limit the movement of the body support structure downwardly. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise device;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a side view showing a user operating the exercise device and forming a modified sit up action;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG. 2 with the user applying pressure to each of the body support structures to move the body support structures to a below horizontal position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame and the in-use position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the frame in its, folded condition;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view showing the locking of the U-shaped portions to the traversed members;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 shows one of the body support structures about to be secured to the frame;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 shows the body support structure when secured to the frame with the latch moved to a locked position;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a back perspective view of one of the body support structures;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing details of the securement of the support member to the body support structure; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 shows securement of the support to the body support structure;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified frame in the in-use positions;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a modified member of the frame;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 14 shows a modified log body support structure;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 15 is a partial side view of the release lock;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 16 is a partial exploded view showing details of the releasable lock; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 17 is a perspective side view of the lock engaging the pivoting back support structure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    The exercise device  2  basically comprises three parts. The base frame  8  pivotally supports the two body support structures  4  and  6 . These body support structures are rectangular frames typically made of tubing and pivotally secured to the frame  8  on the sides of the body support structures intermediate their length. This results in a short stub segment  21  of the body support structure generally located within the frame and a lever segment  23  of the body support structure extending beyond the frame.  
         [0035]    Each of the body support structures includes a stretched support fabric  12  or  14  secured across the frame and attached thereto. The body support structure  6  is designed to support the head and upper shoulders of the user with the small of the user&#39;s back supported on the support segment  34 . These are typically padded cushions which as shown, have a notched region. The body support structure  4  has a support segment  36  designed to support the buttocks of the user. The user&#39;s legs are supported on the fabric  14  stretched about the tubular frame. His feet may be held in place by slipping them beneath the foot bar  44 . The spacing of the foot bar from the body support is adjustable up and down as shown at  46 . Each of the body support structures  4  and  6  are releasably secured to the frame  8 .  
         [0036]    The frame  8  includes two opposed U-shaped members  22  and  24  which are pivotally secured to the transverse members  26  and  28 . As will be later described, the frame forms a four bar linkage which is movable to a collapsed position as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0037]    The exercising action of the device can be more fully appreciated from a review of FIGS. 2 and 3. The user as shown in FIG. 2, has moved the pivoting support structures upwardly by contracting his abdominal muscles and assisting the movement by pulling on handles  18  attached to the fabric  12 . It is also possible to merely have the user grip the tubular frame at the position of the handles. In this way, the handles need not be provided.  
         [0038]    The upward pivoting action of body support structures  4  and  6  has caused the short stub segments  21  to move below the pivot points and thus, the center of gravity of the user has also dropped relative to the pivot points. The user may vary the extent that the body support structures are angled upwardly by increasing abdominal contraction. However this movement becomes progressively harder.  
         [0039]    The exercise device allows the user to customize the workout to his degree of fitness. For a user who finds the exercise somewhat difficult, he can shorten the movement so the platforms do not pass through the horizontal and do not go negative. This makes the exercise easier and therefore, the user can set the end points to achieve the desired workout. Similarly, during a workout the user can reduce the required effort by reducing the extent of the motion. The exercise is progressively more difficult by passing through the horizontal. This is due to body weight and the effective lever relative to the pivot points.  
         [0040]    The exercise device operates such that a user&#39;s body weight and the position of the body support structures determine the required energy necessary to carryout the exercise. If a person is overweight, the recommended exercise will not go through the horizontal and may be considerably short thereof. This allows the user to adjust the exercise routine to fit the personal needs of the user. With this device the full body weight determines the maximum resisting force. However, in many cases, the user will limit the motion to reduce the required force.  
         [0041]    In the side view of FIG. 3, the user has forced the body support structure to return through the horizontal position and has actually gone beyond the horizontal position to form a gentle arch or stretch of the back. As can be seen, the user&#39;s center of gravity has now risen and his hips and the small of the back are all above the pivot points reducing the effective lever. A small foot  50  beneath the head of the user and an optional small foot  51  adjacent the feet of the user space the body support structures from the floor in an extreme position.  
         [0042]    Basically this device uses the weight of the user as the resistance of the pivoting action. In this way, users of different size and weight can all use the device as the force required to carry out the exercise is automatically varied in accordance with the weight of the user. Therefore, with this device, there is no requirement to vary different tensioning devices or provide complicated adjustments. The device is automatically appropriate for a woman or a male without adjustment.  
         [0043]    The frame of FIG. 4 is in its normal operating position. In this position, there is a spring lock  61  in opposed U-shaped members which lock the traversed members in a perpendicular orientation relative to the inverted U-shaped frames. As can be seen, a spring lock  61  having a protruding release member  63  is inserted in the upright tube  65  associated with the transverse member  26  such that the release  63  protrudes through the hole  67 . The arm of the U-shaped member also includes a hole  69  and when the U-shaped member is in a generally perpendicular configuration, the lock  63  will extend through both holes  67  and  69  and lock the members in place. Two such lock arrangements are shown in FIG. 4, however, if desired, each arm of the U-shaped members can include a releasable lock.  
         [0044]    It has been found that two locks are sufficient and it is easier for the user to release the frame to move it to the folded condition of FIG. 5.  
         [0045]    As shown, the U-shaped portions each have two inwardly extending pivot members  60  with a notched or pivot location  62  located at the free ends of the pivot arms. This serves to position the body support structures inwardly of the frame and provide substantial clearance between the tops of the U-shaped members and the pivoting frames. This avoids any pinching surfaces.  
         [0046]    The modified frame  8   a  of FIG. 12 replaces the straight transverse member  26  with an extended transverse member  26   a.  The member  26   a  extends the base of frame  8   a.  The location of the pivot members  60  remain the same while the base is extended several inches. Handle  102  is provided above the frame  8   a  and provides a user with a higher horizontal surface to assist in initially sitting in and getting out of the exercise device.  
         [0047]    A further modified version of the U-shaped members  22  and  24  are shown in FIG. 12 a.  In this case, the U-shaped member  24   a  is provided with a stepped profile  25  adjacent one end. The pivot members  60  remain in the same position but the member  24   a  is extended. A straight transverse member  26  can be used. With this modification, the frame is more space efficient in the folded condition. Handles  102  as shown in FIG. 12 can be added to the structure of FIG. 13.  
         [0048]    The notched region  40  located between the two body support structures  4  and  6  is also designed to reduce or substantially eliminate the possibility of pinching the user. Each stub segment has an oppositely extending portion and a notched portion which generally interfit. There is a space provided between these two surfaces of approximately one and one half inches in the horizontal position to avoid or reduce the possibility of pinching as the body support structures move through the horizontal. As the support segments  34  and  36  are located above the pivot points, these segments continue to move closer together as the segments move downwardly. The spacing avoids any interference as the segments move, however, as they move downwardly, the clearance becomes quite small. The notched shape of the support members  34  and  36  have been found to reduce the possibility of pinching and reduces the tendency for the buttocks of the person to slide below the support members and become lodged therebetween.  
         [0049]    A simple latching arrangement is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this case, each of the body support structures include on opposite side thereof, a downwardly extending bracket  71  having a downwardly opening recess  73 . This recess slides over one of the pivoting pins  62 . The latch  75  is moved from an opened position shown in FIG. 7 to the latched position shown in FIG. 8. The latch  75  pivots about point  81  and has a detente  85  shown as a dimple which holds the latch in an open position of FIG. 7 in that the détente engages a hole in the bracket  71 . The détente of the latch also holds it in the locked position of FIG. 8 as the détente engages a second hole  83 . Any action to remove the support platform causes the arm of the latch  75  to engage and be restricted by the vertical edge of bracket  71 . This provides a positive lock in the event a large force is applied in a direction to disconnect the body support structure with the latch in a locked position. Thus a simple positive locking of the body support structures to the frame is achieved.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 9 shows details of the body support structures with the downwardly extending brackets to allow pivoting of the structure on the pins. In addition, it is seen that the stretched fabric  12  has been wrapped around the frame and is basically tied to the back of the frame. This provides a simple support structure for the legs of the user or for the back, shoulders and head of the user. It can be seen that the body support structure includes a reinforcing bar  93  at the stub segment and the support  34  and  36  is secured directly to this bar. The support is also secured at the extending end  95  by means of the bracket  97 .  
         [0051]    Details of the supports  34  and  36  are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this case, each of the supports includes a wooden base substrate  100  having a port  102  for receiving the T-nut  104 . The T-nut  104  is placed through the port  102  and engages and locks with the upper surface of the wood base substrate. A compressible fill material  106 , such as a foam member, is placed over the seat and a fabric  108  is wrapped about the seat and attached to the wood base substrate  100 . This support can then be secured by means of screws or bolts  110  passing through a bracket  97  or through ports in the reinforcing member  93  to thereby positively secure the support to the body support structures. This positive support and rigidity of the structures is important as these members are having a rocking pressure applied thereto by the user to carry out the exercise. A very positive securement of member  100  to the body support structures is accomplished as the T-bolt  104  is on the opposite side of the wood member  100 . These aspects are clearly shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 14 shows a modified body support structure  4   a.  This structure includes an indented frame to assist the user initially sitting in the unit. This design in combination with the handles of FIG. 12 allows the user to lower themselves into the exerciser. The indented portions allow the feet of the user to be closer together during entry or exit from the exercise device. It also serves as a useful reminder that back support structure  6  is a backrest portion and is not designed for supporting the user&#39;s buttocks.  
         [0053]    A releasable lock  120  initially positions body support structure  6  in a generally upright manner. This allows the user to get into the unit to exercise and then release the lock freeing support structure  6  to pivot. Various lock mechanisms between the frame and pivoting support structure can be used.  
         [0054]    Modified body support structure  4   a  shown in FIG. 14 includes a short U-shaped portion  104  which is pivotally secured to the frame  8   a.  Centered on the front edge of the U-shaped portion  104  is a leg support section  106 . The sides  108  and  110  are secured inwardly of the side edges of the U-shaped portion  104  and angle outwardly. With this arrangement, the user can place his legs on the floor closer to the centerline of the exerciser. In this way, it is easier for the user to get off or get onto the exerciser.  
         [0055]    The exercise device shown in FIG. 14 also has the releasable lock  120  for allowing initial orientation of the backrest support portion  6  in an upright angulation. This acts as a further reminder that the user is to position his buttocks on the seat support  36 . It is also possible for the seat support  36 . It is also possible for the seat support  36  to be of a molded plastic material appropriately supported which is shaped to clearly indicate it intended purpose. Furthermore, the back support  34  can also be shaped to clearly indicate its purpose as a backrest portion primarily. The modified leg support portion  4   a  shows a fabric stretched across the entire frame, however, this need not be the case. Only partial covering of this frame may be required.  
         [0056]    Further details of the lock arrangement can be appreciated from a review of FIGS. 15, 16 and  17 . The lock  120  includes a lock shaft  122  slidably retained in the bracket  124  secured to the frame  8   a.  The back body support structure  6  includes a downwardly extending flange  126  having a port  128  for sliding over one of the pivot pins  60 . The flange  126  also includes an elongate slot  130  for receiving and locking with the shaft  122 . When a user wishes to lock the back support pivoting frame  6 , he merely moves the frame to the upright position shown in FIG. 14 and pushes on shaft  122  such that the shaft enters the elongate slot  130  of the flange  126 . The user can then position himself within the exerciser as shown in FIG. 14 with the back pivoting support structure  6  in the upright orientation. Once he has so positioned himself within the device, the shaft  122  can be moved to a release position allowing the back pivoting support structure to pivot.  
         [0057]    The normal operating range for movement of the back support structure is such that the shaft  122  would not align with the elongate slot  130 . In this way, the lock does not affect the normal use of the device. The solid flange below the elongate slot  130  maintains the shaft  122  in a release position. The normal operating range of the pivoting support structure  6  is generally shown in FIG. 15 and it can be seen that the elongate slot  130  is well above the lock shaft  122 .  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 17 shows the pivoting back support position in a locked upright orientation.  
         [0059]    It can also be appreciated that there may be certain exercises that a user may wish to carry out with the back pivoting support structure in the locked position. This significantly reduces the difficulty in pivoting of the other pivoting structure  4   a,  however, it could be effective in certain specific applications.  
         [0060]    The leg support pivoting structure  4   a  of FIG. 14 does not include a foot engaging member at the free end thereof, however, this can be provided if desired.  
         [0061]    This structure is simple to assemble, as each of the body support structures are releaseable from the frame by means of two latches for each body support structure and the frame can also be moved to a collapsed condition. In this way the device is easy to store and easy to transport. Assembly of the device is extremely simple in that the frame is merely moved to the normal operating condition, the spring locks lock the frame in its position, and the body support structures may then be attached to the frame to engage the pivot pins with the latches moved to a locked position to maintain the body support structures on the frame.  
         [0062]    The body support structures are movable through a large angle however an angle of 30° is sufficient for many exercises. Movement through more than 70° is not necessary although possible. Preferably the frame is less than 10 inches in height to further stabilize the exercise device and improve safety. The stub segment is preferably of a length between 5 and 10 inches. This dimension is important in controlling the force the user must exert to perform the exercise.  
         [0063]    The device has been specifically shown with the body support structures having two latches on either side thereof for engaging the pivoting pins of the frame. It is possible that one of these members can merely be a port in the bracket that slides over one of the pivot pins and the opposite bracket has the open slot and latch for positively securing the body support structure to the frame. Other positive securement arrangements are possible. For example the brackets could each include ports with the body supports attached to the pins by over sliding on one pin and then slide on the opposite pin. The double latch arrangement makes the assembly of the exercise device more straightforward and provides a positive securement.  
         [0064]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.