Abstract:
An adjustable ramped and horizontal stretching bench device for relieving spinal and muscle conditions contributing to lower back pain. The stretching bench has a horizontal forward portion and a ramped rearward portion. The effective overall length of the stretching bench is adjustable to accommodate persons of different lengths and different relationships between body length and leg length. The angle between the forward portion and rearward portion is adjustable from zero degrees to forty-five degrees.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to stretching devices, and in particular, to a stretching apparatus for the lower back. 
   A significant portion of the population sustains injuries, often minor, which lead to lower back discomfort and pain. Many of these lower back injuries could be treated and/or avoided by improving the condition and strength of the lumbar region. Conditioning of the muscles of the lower back are most quickly attained by a regime of stretching exercises targeting the lumbar region. 
   There are many exercise machines in the prior art, some of which are specifically directed to the lower back region. However, most, if not all, of the prior art devices are limited in the range of stretching exercises available as well as limited to the size of the person able to use the device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention addresses the above problems by providing an adjustable ramped and horizontal stretching bench device for relieving spinal and muscle conditions contributing to lower back pain. The stretching bench of the present invention has a horizontal forward portion and a ramped rearward portion. The effective overall length of the stretching bench is adjustable to accommodate persons of different lengths and different relationships between body length and leg length. The angle between the forward portion and rearward portion is adjustable from 0 degrees to 45 degrees. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the invention without leg holders. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view with leg holders. 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view with leg holders. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view. 
       FIG. 7  is a top sectional view of the crank mechanism adjacent the cross bar. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a lower back stretching apparatus  1  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The apparatus is comprised of a padded, waist-high bench  1  having a horizontal forward portion  10  and a pivotable rearward portion  40 . The forward portion  10  is adapted to support a prone upper torso of a user. The rearward portion  40  is adapted to support the legs of a user. The forward portion  10  and rearward portion  40  are interconnected by a crank mechanism  20  adapted to pivot the rearward portion  40  from a zero degree horizontal position through a forty-five degree downward and rearward tilted position. 
   The forward portion  10  is comprised of a generally flat, rectangular, horizontal, padded element  11  having an upper surface  12 , an opposite lower surface  13 , a front end  14 , a rear end  15 , and two opposite sides  16  interconnecting the front end  14  with the rear end  15 . The front end  14  and rear end  15  define a front portion longitudinal axis. The forward portion padded element upper surface  12  is adapted to support the upper torso of a user. The forward portion  10  is further comprised of four vertical support legs attached to the padded element lower surface  13 . The legs are individually length-adjustable. Two front legs  17  are attached near to the element front end  14 , one each near to each opposite side  16 . Two rear legs  18  are attached near to the element rear end  15 , one each near to each opposite side  16 . The legs  17 ,  18  may be vertically adjustable so that a user can adjust the height of the forward portion. 
   The rearward portion  40  is comprised of a generally flat, rectangular, horizontal, padded element  41  having an upper surface  42 , an opposite lower surface  43 , a front end  44 , a rear end  45 , and two opposite sides  46  interconnecting the front end  44  with the rear end  45 . The front end  44  and rear end  45  define a rearward portion longitudinal axis. The rearward portion padded element upper surface  42  is adapted to support the legs of a user. The forward portion front end  14  and rearward portion rear end  45  define a bench  1  longitudinal axis. Two round leg holders  47  are mounted on the rearward portion element upper surface  42  near to the rearward portion rear end  45 . The leg holders  47  are adjustable along an axis perpendicular to a rearward portion padded element upper surface plane. A spring loaded button  50  protruded through a select hole  51  formed in a vertical telescoping support bar  52  enables the leg holders to be adjusted closer or farther from the padded element upper surface This enables a user to have the backs of his legs removably gripped during a stretching procedure. An elongated, hollow support bar  48  is attached longitudinally to the rearward portion lower surface  43 , said support bar  48  having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rearward portion  40 . The support bar  48  has a row of apertures  49  along each bar side. Different sized padded elements  41  may be attached to the elongated, hollow support bar  48  thereby servicing exerciser of different sizes. 
   The rearward portion  40  is attached to a crank mechanism  20  adapted to pivot the ramped rearward portion from a zero degree horizontal position through a forty-five degree downward and rearward tilted position. The crank mechanism  20  is comprised of a support cross-bar  21  attached to the two rear support legs  18  of the forward portion  10 . The crank mechanism  20  is further comprised of an elongated crank lever  22  pivotally attached to the support cross-bar  21 . The crank lever  22  has a forward portion  23  in front of the cross-bar  21  and a rearward portion  24  to the rear of the cross-bar  21 . The crank lever forward portion  23  terminates in a Y-shaped element  29  with each element end  30  terminating in a hand grip  31  adjustably positioned along the forward portion padded element sides  16 . A secondary set of hand grips  32  are adjustably positioned laterally along the crank lever forward portions  23 . The crank lever rearward portion  24  terminates in a U-shaped element  25  having apertures  26  formed along its sides. The U-shaped element  25  is adapted to fit about the rearward portion support bar  48  wherein the U-shaped apertures  26  are aligned with the support bar apertures  49 . An elongated removable pin  27  is provided for joining the U-shaped element  25  and the support bar  48  together. The elongated pin  27  is removably attached through the U-shaped element apertures  26  and support bar apertures  49 . 
   The crank lever  22  has a center section  28  rotatably attached to the support cross-bar  21 . A damper piston  35  interconnects the padded element rear end  15  with the crank mechanism rearward portion  24 . 
   Pulling the hand grips  31  up translates about the support cross-bar  21  a downward pull on the rearward portion support bar  48  causing the rearward portion padded element  41  to move downward as the crank lever rearward portion  24  pivots downward about the support cross-bar  21 . Pushing the hand grips  31  downward translates about the support cross-bar  21  an upward push on the rearward portion support bar  48  causing the rearward portion padded element  41  to move upward. 
   Adjustments in the effective length of the apparatus  1 , i.e., separation between forward portion  10  and rearward portion  40 , may be made by changing the pin  27  placement in the U-shaped element apertures  26  and support bar apertures  49 . A spring-loaded, pivotable vertical locking bar  37  may be attached to the forward portion padded element lower surface  13  for engagement with the crank mechanism crank lever forward portion  23 . The locking bar  37  is adapted to hold the crank lever  22  in position wherein the rearward portion  40  is in a full horizontal position. A holder  36  mounted on the crank lever  22  seats the locking bar  37  in place. When the exerciser is in position and the invention ready to be used, the locking bar  37  is released from the crank lever holder  36 . The spring-loaded locking bar  37  springs forward up to a horizontal position where it engages another holder  34  attached to the forward portion padded element lower surface  13 . Bottom prongs  38  on the locking bar  37  will hold the crank lever forward portion  23  in a desired position so that the user may easily and safely position himself on the exercise apparatus  1 . 
   In another embodiment of the invention a hook element  60  is rotatably attached to each rear support leg  18 . A laterally protruding bar  61  is attached to each side of the crank mechanism forward portion  23  near to the cross bar  21 . Each laterally protruding bar  61  terminates in a half-ring element  62 . Each hook element  60  is adapted to engage a half-ring element  62 . This provides an additional safety element over and above the locking bar  37 . When the user desired to use the invention  1 , the hooks  60  are disengaged from the half-rings  62  and rotated away from the lateral bars  61 . 
   It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. The Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.