Patent Publication Number: US-7591773-B2

Title: Abdominal muscle training apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to exercise apparatus for training a user&#39;s abdominal muscles. In particular, it relates to such apparatus in which the user exercises in a supported half-kneeling position, promoting neutral pelvic alignment. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   During the performance of physical exercise, the body is subjected to stresses and strains beyond that which would normally be encountered in most people&#39;s everyday activities. These stresses and strains increase the risk of injury occurring to vulnerable areas of the body such as the joints, and care should be taken to minimise such risks wherever possible during training. 
   In the performance of exercises for training the abdominal muscles, with which the present invention is concerned, the joint between the pelvis and the spine is particularly at risk. To minimise the risk of injury to this joint, it is thought to be beneficial to maintain the pelvis, so far as is possible during the performance of the exercise, in a position substantially at the mid-point of its range of anterior to posterior rotation about the joint. This position is referred to herein as neutral pelvic alignment. 
   Fitness equipment for training a user&#39;s abdominal muscles generally operates with the user in a supine body position. However, for users lacking mobility, such as those who are disabled, obese or elderly, it can be difficult comfortably to adopt the supine position, and even more difficult to return to a standing position afterwards. As a result, those users who are likely to benefit most from abdominal muscle training can find themselves excluded from performing such exercise. 
   In an attempt to overcome this problem, some abdominal exercise devices have been provided which offer the user the option of exercising from a seated position. However, such devices do not promote neutral pelvic alignment, leaving the user at an increased risk of injury. 
   The ideal body position for maintaining neutral pelvic alignment is referred to herein as the half-kneeling position. This involves the buttocks and knees only being supported, with a somewhat larger angle being formed between the abdomen and the upper legs than is customary in a normal seated position. Static seats, known as kneel chairs, which support a user in the half-kneeling position are well known and are widely used by those suffering from back trauma, as an aid to rehabilitation. However it is believed that, until now, no exercise apparatus has sought to support a user in the half-kneeling position for the performance of abdominal muscle training exercise. Furthermore, current designs of kneel chairs do not promote easy and safe mounting and dismounting of the seat, requiring the user to mount the seat from the front of the chair and to step back into the seat. 
   In addition to the above discussed concerns regarding neutral pelvic alignment, many known abdominal training devices suffer further shortcomings in that they rely solely on weight-stacks or elastic resistance elements to provide the resistive force which the user must overcome during exercise. The use of weight-stacks inevitably greatly increases the overall mass of the product, making it difficult and expensive to ship, and cumbersome to move once installed. A drawback involved in the use of elastic resistance elements alone is that the resistive load increases exponentially as the material is stretched. Unless used in combination with other resistive loads, this provides an unnatural load and decreases the specificity of the exercise, i.e. the targeting of a particular exercise to a particular group of muscles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention seeks to address these problems by enabling a user to perform abdominal muscle training exercise from a half-kneeling position, thus promoting neutral pelvic alignment, with the resistive load being provided primarily by the user&#39;s own body mass. The present invention further seeks to provide exercise apparatus capable of being adapted for use as a static kneel chair, in which the user may easily and safely mount and dismount from the rear of the seat. 
   According to the present invention there is provided exercise apparatus comprising:
         a support frame having a base member and a seat portion associated therewith, adapted to support a user in a half-kneeling position; and   a lever frame having a first arm adapted for manual operation by said user, and a second arm linked to the base member, said first and second arms being joined at a junction at or adjacent a fulcrum for the lever frame;       

   whereby in use, the exercise apparatus is operable by said user manually pushing said first arm away from his or her body thereby to rotate the lever frame about its fulcrum, thus lifting said second arm, which in turn causes the seat portion associated with the base member to lift and/or tilt, the user&#39;s abdominal muscles thereby being exercised in lifting the user&#39;s own body mass. 
   In a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second arms of the lever frame are arranged generally perpendicular to one another thereby to form a generally L-shaped lever frame. The lever frame thus has a handle end, adapted for manual operation, and a free end, with the junction being located therebetween. The junction between the first and second arms is preferably rounded and arranged to bear against a working surface beneath the exercise apparatus. The rounded junction may be arranged to bear directly against the working surface, or in alternative embodiments of the present invention may be arranged to bear against the working surface via an intermediary member. Suitable constructions of intermediary member include the use of a rocker bar arranged perpendicularly across the lever frame and having rounded feet at either end thereof adapted to bear against the working surface. The forces imparted by the user during exercise are thus displaced to either side of the apparatus, giving enhanced stability. 
   The exercise apparatus is operated by the user repeating a cycle of pushing the first arm away from his or her body, and subsequently releasing the manual force applied to the first arm. As the manual force is released, the user&#39;s body mass urges the seat portion back to its initial rest position, which in turn causes the lever frame to return to its rest position. The lever frame thus rotates about the fulcrum in a back-and-forth rocking motion as the manual force is repeatedly applied and released. To provide comfort to the user, and to enable the performance of a range of different exercises, the first arm preferably comprises a handlebar adapted for manual operation by the user. 
   The second arm of the lever frame is preferably linked to the support frame base member via a pivot. Operation of the lever frame causes the second arm and the pivot to lift away from the working surface, causing the seat portion both to lift and to tilt. This action ensures that both the user&#39;s upper and lower abdominal muscles are exercised in lifting his or her body mass, thus promoting the execution of a correct abdominal contraction. Counter-clockwise rotation of the lever frame about the fulcrum causes clockwise rotation of the support frame about the pivot, and vice versa. 
   The support frame base member extends from the pivot to a foot adapted to bear against the working surface beneath the exercise apparatus. The foot remains in contact with the working surface throughout the performance of exercise, and is adapted for translational movement along the working surface towards the lever frame fulcrum, when the pivot is lifted away from the working surface by the action of the lever frame. The foot therefore effectively acts as a further fulcrum for the support frame. 
   To facilitate the translational movement of the foot along the working surface, the foot is preferably provided with a rotational member. Most preferably, the rotational member comprises one or more wheel(s) or roller(s). 
   In a currently preferred construction of exercise apparatus according to the present invention, the base member extends beyond the pivot, distal from the foot. The seat portion is then joined to the base member at a connection point located distal from the foot, such that the pivot is located between said foot and said connection point. 
   In this embodiment, the seat portion is joined to the base member at an acutely angled junction, thereby forming a generally V-shaped support frame. This shape enables the seat portion to be correctly aligned for supporting a user in the half-kneeling position, and also facilitates the interaction between the lever frame and the support frame, as the generally L-shaped lever frame and the generally V-shaped support frame can be arranged such that the respective junctions of said frames are generally co-incident when the apparatus is at rest. To impart further strength to the support frame structure, the seat portion may be further supported by one or more struts extending from the base member at or adjacent the foot. 
   Modifications may be made to the exercise apparatus to allow the user to perform work against an applied resistive load in addition to the work done in lifting his or her own body mass. For example, one or more additional mass element(s) may be suspended between the respective junctions of the generally L-shaped lever frame and the generally V-shaped support frame. Alternatively, or additionally, the respective junctions of the generally L-shaped lever frame and the generally V-shaped support frame may additionally be linked by an elastic resistance element. 
   Elastic resistance elements may instead be utilised to link the free end of the lever frame with the foot end of the support frame. In such embodiments, the foot end of the support frame is preferably provided with one or more fixing points, whilst the elastic resistance elements are preferably adapted to extend from the free end of the lever frame and are provided with complementary engagement means to connect to said fixing points. 
   In order to support the user in the half-kneeling position, and thereby promote neutral pelvic alignment, the seat portion comprises a buttock support element and a knee rest element. The knee rest element may be formed either as a single unit extending across the support frame and adapted to accommodate both knees, or alternatively may take the form of two separate units, displaced slightly to the sides of the support frame, each adapted to accommodate one knee. 
   In a currently preferred embodiment of exercise apparatus according to the present invention, two separate knee rest elements are provided, each being mounted independently of the other via a flexible mount. The flexible mount permits minimal movement of each knee rest element relative to the support frame, thereby to accommodate leg movement during exercise without causing undue stress to the user&#39;s knees. 
   The pivot between the lever frame and the support frame preferably comprises a lockable pin engageable with a complementary aperture formed in each of the second arm of the lever frame and the base member of the support frame. Most preferably, the second arm of the lever frame and the base member of the support frame each comprise a plurality of spaced like apertures, to enable the location of the pivot to be adjusted. The resistance provided by the user&#39;s body mass, and hence the work required to overcome that resistance, can thus be adjusted by changing the location of the pivot. 
   The construction of exercise apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to any particular form, however it is preferred that at least one of the lever frame and the support frame are formed with a parallel tubular construction, whilst in certain embodiments each said frame is formed with a parallel tubular construction. In such embodiments, the lever frame thus comprises a pair of parallel tubular members cross-linked at the handlebar and/or at or adjacent the pivot, whilst the support frame comprises a pair of parallel tubular members cross-linked at the seat portion and/or at or adjacent the foot. In embodiments where the use of elastic resistance elements linking the foot end of the support frame with the free end of the lever frame is combined with the tubular construction of the lever frame, the elastic resistance elements may conveniently be recoiled within the tubular lever frame for storage when not in use. 
   The support frame is preferably detachable from the lever frame thereby to form a static kneel chair. One or both of the thus-disassembled frames is preferably further foldable to facilitate storage of said exercise apparatus when not in use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the present invention may be fully understood, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described in detail, though only by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of exercise apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are side views of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1 , forming an illustrative sequence showing the relative positions of the lever and support frames during exercise; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are side views of a second embodiment of exercise apparatus according to the present invention, forming an illustrative sequence showing the relative positions of the lever and support frames during exercise; 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are perspective views of a third embodiment of exercise apparatus according to the present invention, forming an illustrative sequence showing the relative positions of the lever and support frames and the user during exercise; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIGS. 6  and  7 , showing the user performing an alternative abdominal muscle training exercise; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective side view of a fourth embodiment of exercise apparatus according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective rear view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a detailed view of a feature of the exercise apparatus of  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; and 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of  FIGS. 9 to 11 , showing a user performing an abdominal muscle training exercise. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a first embodiment of exercise apparatus, generally indicated  10 , according to the present invention. The exercise apparatus  10  comprises a lever frame  11  and a support frame  12  linked via a pivot, generally indicated  13 , as will be discussed in more detail below. 
   The lever frame  11  is generally L-shaped, having first and second arms  14 ,  15  joined at a rounded central junction  16  which forms a fulcrum for the lever frame  11 . The first arm  14  terminates at a handlebar  17 , whilst the second arm  15  is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures  18  for receiving a pivot pin (not shown) as will be discussed in more detail below. 
   The support frame  12  is generally V-shaped, having a base member  19  with a seat portion  21  joined thereto at a rounded central junction  22 . The base member  19  is provided with a plurality of further spaced apertures  18 , and terminates in a foot  23  which is provided with a pair of wheels  24 , one at each side of the support frame  12 . The seat portion  21  comprises a buttock rest element  25  and a pair of knee rest elements  26 , one to each side of the support frame  12 . The relatively thin shape of the support frame  12  and the seat portion  21  allows a user (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) easily to mount and dismount from the back of the seat portion  21 , with his or her knees sliding past the buttock rest element  25  and onto the knee rest elements  26 . 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , each of the lever frame  11  and the support frame  12  is formed as a pair of cross-linked parallel tubular members. This facilitates the required relative spatial arrangement of the lever frame  11  and the support frame  12 , as the second arm  15  of the lever frame  11  can be inserted between the parallel tubular members of the support frame base member  19 . The L-shaped lever frame  11  and the V-shaped support frame  12  can thus be aligned so that their respective central junctions  16 ,  22  are generally co-incident. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there is shown an illustrative sequence showing the relative positions of the lever frame  11  and the support frame  12  as the exercise apparatus  10  is operated from its rest position ( FIG. 2 ) through towards the limit of its dynamic range ( FIG. 3 ). 
   Starting from the rest position as shown in  FIG. 2 , operation of the exercise apparatus  10  begins with a user (not shown) supported on the seat portion  21  pushing the first arm  14  away from his or her body using the handlebar  17 , as indicated by arrow a. This causes the lever frame  11  to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction on its rounded central junction  16 , which acts as a fulcrum by bearing against a working surface  27  beneath the exercise apparatus  10 , as indicated by arrow b. The rotation of the lever frame  11  lifts the second arm  15  (not visible in  FIG. 2 ), causing the pivot  13  to be displaced vertically upwards, as indicated by arrow c. 
   Due to the pivotal connection of the lever frame  11  to the support frame  12  at the pivot  13 , the support frame  12  is then caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow d. The lifting and tilting motion c, d of the support frame is assisted by the translational movement of the wheeled foot  23 ,  24  along the working surface  27  towards the fulcrum  16 , as indicated by arrow e. 
   The configuration achieved by the exercise apparatus  10  as it reaches the limit of its dynamic range by virtue of the motion a, b, c, d, e of the lever frame  11  and the support frame  12  is shown in  FIG. 3 . As can be seen, at this point in the sequence, the pivot  13  has been lifted clear of the working surface  27  by the scissor-like action of the second arm  15  of the lever frame  11  with the support frame base member  19 . The seat portion  21  has been both lifted and tilted backwards closer to the horizontal, whilst the first arm  14  of the lever frame  11  is further from the seat portion  21  than in the rest position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   From the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the user returns the exercise apparatus  10  to its rest position by releasing the manual force applied to the first arm  14  of the lever frame  11 . As the force is released, the user&#39;s body mass urges the support frame  12  back to its rest position by rotating it in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow f, and lowering the pivot  13  back towards the working surface  27 , as indicated by arrow g. The motion f, g of the support frame  12  is assisted by the translational motion of the wheeled foot  23 ,  24  along the working surface  27  away from the fulcrum  16 , as indicated by arrow h. As the pivot  13  is lowered g, the second arm  15  of the lever frame  11  is also lowered back towards the working surface  27 , causing the lever frame  11  to rock back on its fulcrum  16  in a clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow j, which in turn brings the handlebar  17  back to its rest position, as indicated by arrow k. 
   The motion f, g, h, j, k of the lever frame  11  and the support frame  12  returns the exercise apparatus  10  to its rest position ready for the start of the next sequence. The sequence illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  will typically be repeated many times during operation of the exercise apparatus  10 , in a back-and-forth rocking motion. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is shown a second embodiment of exercise apparatus, generally indicated  30 , according to the present invention. The second embodiment  30  is broadly similar to the first embodiment  10  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , and where appropriate, like reference numerals have been used to indicate like components. Similarly, the motion of the lever frame  11  and the support frame  12  of the second embodiment  30  from its rest position ( FIG. 4 ) through towards the limit of its dynamic range ( FIG. 5 ) is identical to the sequence described above with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
   The second embodiment  30  differs from the first embodiment  10  in that an elastic resistance element  31  links the L-shaped lever frame  11  to the V-shaped support frame  12  at the respective central junctions  16 ,  22  thereof. 
   The resistance element  31  provides a further resistive load against which the user must work, in addition to the resistive load associated with the user&#39;s own body mass. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the resistance element  31  must be extended in order for the support frame  12  to achieve its full dynamic range. Additionally, the resistance element  31  may be used to apply a resistive load to the sequence of returning the exercise apparatus  10  from the position shown in  FIG. 5  to its rest position. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , there is shown a third embodiment of exercise apparatus, generally indicated  40 , according to the present invention, in the process of supporting a user  41 , for the performance of a basic abdominal muscle training exercise. Again, the third embodiment  40  is broadly similar to the first and second embodiments  10 ,  30  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , and where appropriate like reference numerals have been used to indicate like components. Similarly, the motion of the lever frame  11  and the support frame  12  of the third embodiment  40  from its rest position ( FIG. 6 ) through towards the limit of its dynamic range ( FIG. 7 ) is identical to the sequences described above with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 5 . 
   The third embodiment  40  differs from the first and second embodiments  10 ,  30  in that it comprises a single knee rest element  42  extending across the support frame  12  to accommodate both knees of the user  41 , rather than having a separate knee rest element for each knee. The seat portion  21  is also provided with a pair of struts  43  anchored to the foot  23  of the support frame  12  to provide additional strength and rigidity to the support frame  12 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , with the exercise apparatus  40  in its rest position, the user  41  is supported via the buttock rest element  25  and the knee rest element  26  so as to assume the half-kneeling position whilst retaining a straight back, thus promoting neutral pelvic alignment. The forward motion a of the handlebar  17 , coupled with the rearward tilting d and lifting c of the seat portion results in the user  41  being forced into a half-crouching position, as shown in  FIG. 7 . This position requires the upper and lower abdominal muscles of the user  41  to move towards one another and ensures that both sets of muscles are employed in lifting the user&#39;s body mass. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  also illustrate the adjustable pivot  13  mechanism in more detail. A lockable pivot pin  44  is engaged with one of a plurality of spaced apertures  18  in the support frame base member  19 , and extends therethrough to engage with one of a plurality of like spaced apertures  18  in the second arm  15  of the lever frame  11 . By selecting different combinations of apertures  18  in the base member  19  and the second arm  15  respectively, the location of the pivot  13  can be adjusted, so as to provide adjustable resistance for the user  41  to exercise against, whilst still working against his or her own body mass. The pivot  13  position can also be adjusted in order to accommodate users  41  of differing sizes. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , this shows the third embodiment of exercise apparatus  40  being utilised for the performance of an alternative abdominal muscle training exercise, the apparatus  40  being shown in a position towards the limit of its dynamic range, as in  FIG. 7 . To perform the exercise, the user  41  utilises his or her right hand  45  only, with the left hand  46  remaining free of the apparatus  40 . With the right hand  45 , the user  41  holds the handlebar  17  towards its left end  47  (from the user&#39;s perspective). Operating the apparatus  40  in this position subjects the user&#39;s right side abdominal muscles to both a forward contraction and a rotational contraction simultaneously. Repeating the exercise with the user&#39;s left hand  46  holding the handlebar towards its right end  48  (from the user&#39;s perspective) provides the same exercise for the user&#39;s left side abdominal muscles. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , there is shown a fourth embodiment of exercise apparatus, generally indicated  50 , according to the present invention. As above, like reference numerals are utilised where components of the fourth embodiment  50  do not differ significantly from the corresponding components of the first, second and third embodiments  10 ,  30 ,  40 . The fourth embodiment  50  differs from the first, second and third embodiments  10 ,  30 ,  40  in four key respects, as will now be described. 
   Firstly, the support frame  52  is formed with a single tubular construction, rather than the parallel tubular construction of the support frame  12  in earlier described embodiments. This enables the support frame  52  to slot in between the parallel tubular members of the lever frame  51 , facilitating the interaction of the two frames  51 ,  52 . As can also be seen from  FIGS. 9  and  10 , a single strut  53  interconnects the base member  19  and the seat portion  21  of the support frame  52 , said single strut  53  being rather more study than the struts  43  of the third embodiment  40 . 
   Secondly, the knee rest elements  56  are again split into separate units, one provided either side of the support frame  52 . However, the knee rest elements  56  differ from those of the previous embodiment in that they are each connected to the support frame  52  via a flexible mounting element  57 . The flexible mounting elements  57  permit minimal movement of each knee rest element  56  relative to the support frame  52 , so as to accommodate movement during exercise without causing undue stress to the knees of the user  41 . 
   Thirdly, the lever frame  51  is constructed such that its central junction  16  does not bear directly on the working surface  27  beneath the exercise apparatus  50 , but instead acts on the surface  27  via an intermediary member in the form of a rocker bar  58  having a foot  59 , at either end thereof. The rocker bar  58  displaces the forces imparted by the user  41  during exercise out to the sides of the apparatus  50  thus enhancing stability, whilst the rocker bar feet  59  facilitate the rocking motion of the apparatus  50  during exercise. 
   Fourthly, the exercise apparatus  50  is provided with elastic resistance elements  61  interconnecting the free end  62  of the lever frame  51  with fixing points  63  provided on the foot end  23  of the support frame  52 , as will now be discussed in more detail with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
   The elastic resistance elements  61  extend from the free ends  62  of the lever frame  51 , and may be recoiled within the parallel tubular members constituting the second arm  15 , when the user  41  wishes to exercise without added resistance. When it is desired to exercise against additional resistance, the user  41  simply pulls the elastic resistance elements  61  out of the free ends  62  of the lever frame  51  with his or her hand  45 . As can be seen from  FIG. 11 , each elastic resistance element  61  terminates in a loop  64 , which is adapted to engage with a complementary hook  65  provided on the fixing points  63 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 12 , this shows a user  41  exercising on abdominal muscle training apparatus according to a fourth embodiment  50  of the present invention, utilising the elastic resistance elements  61 . As can be seen, the user  41  exercises by pushing the handlebar  17  away from his or her body, causing the lever frame  51  to rotate, and the support frame  52  to rotate and lift. As this motion occurs, the foot wheels  24  of the support frame  52  move towards the rocker feet  59  of the lever frame  51 , whilst the free end  62  of the lever frame  62  is simultaneously lifted away from the working surface  27 . This increases the distance between the free ends  62  and the fixing points  63 , thus tensing the elastic resistance elements  61 , and providing an additional resistive force for the user  41  to exercise against.