Patent Publication Number: US-5839998-A

Title: Combination slant board and abdominal rocker

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Two major devices are available which develop abdominal muscles. One of the devices is a slant board or bench and the other is an abdominal rocker. Each of the devices has advantages and has drawbacks. The slant board has no neck support, provides no rocking action and has no arm or hand support and the exercise is not done on a horizontal surface. The rocker is done on a horizontal surface and has no angle adjustability to add resistance from gravity. The rocker also has no padding beneath the user, no place to anchor the feet and is prone to lateral or side to side instability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a combination exercise device which combines the features of both the slant board and the abdominal rocker into a single device to incorporate the respective advantages while minimizing the problems attendant with each. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide such a combination exercise device which permits each of the components to be used individually when desired. 
     In accordance with this invention a combination exercise device includes a slant board and an abdominal rocker. The slant board comprises a rigid body support which is preferably padded and is elevated at one end to incline the body support. The abdominal rocker includes a frame having a base section pivotally mounted adjacent to the body support with a grip section spaced from the base section. A neck rest is mounted to the frame between the base section and the grip section with the grip section and neck rest being located above the body support so that the user can lay on the body support with the neck or head on the rest and the hands or arms at the grip section. 
     In a preferred practice of this invention the abdominal rocker is mounted to the slant board in one of a number of selected different positions. Preferably, the mounting is in a detachable manner so that the slant board and abdominal rocker could be used independently of each other when desired. 
     In other practices of this invention various other types of exercise components may be included in the combination. Such components could include, for example, rowing arms, elastic cords and weights. An abdominal flex device might also be included on the abdominal rocker. The abdominal rocker might be adjustable in width to accommodate different size slant boards. 
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a combination exercise device in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a left end elevational view of the device shown in FIGS. 1-2; 
     FIG. 4 is a left end elevational view similar to FIG. 3 of a modified form of device; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of yet another form of combination exercise device in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 5 along the line 6--6; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of still yet another form of combination exercise device in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 7 along the line 8--8; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of still yet another form of combination exercise device in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 9 along the line 10--10; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of still yet another form of combination exercise device in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a further form of combination exercise device in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of yet another combination exercise device in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a further combination exercise device in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an abdominal rocker that may be used with various forms of slant boards in accordance with this invention; and 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of yet another form of combination exercise device in accordance with this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-3 show a combination exercise device 10 in accordance with this invention. In general, exercise device 10 includes a slant board or bench 12 and an abdominal rocker 14. The invention may be broadly practiced with various forms of slant boards and various forms of abdominal rockers. In this respect, the invention in its broad form is based upon the combination of the two exercise units into a single exercise device. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 slant board 12 includes a rigid body support 16 which is completely covered by padding 18. A stabilizing member 20, such as a rod having high friction material covering the rod is located at one end of slant board 12. The opposite end of slant board 12 is elevated by a mounting structure which includes upright posts 22 having a plurality of spaced holes 24 into which a lock pin 26 would be selectively inserted by the pulling outward or pushing inward of knob 28. A further stabilizing member 20 is connected to the bottom of posts 22. The structure for slant board 12 and the manners of adjustment may take the forms shown and described in copending application Ser. No. 480,645, filed Jun. 7, 1995, all of the details of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Thus, the various details in application Ser. No. 480,645 may be incorporated to enhance the use of the slant board either as a separate exercise device or in combination with the abdominal rocker. 
     As also shown in FIGS. 1-3 a post member 30 is adjustably secured to the elevated end of slant board 12. A padded cross-member 32 extends outwardly from the exposed upper end of post 30 for engagement with the user&#39;s feet or hands in accordance with the particular exercise being done. 
     If desired, slant board 12 may also incorporate various structural elements to enhance the types of exercises that could be done by utilizing various components disclosed in applicant&#39;s co-pending application Ser. No. 689,056 filed Jul. 30, 1996, all of the details of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. In this respect, such copending application discloses a platform having, for example, a bench with various other components associated therewith. The bench might be considered as a form of slant board or exercise platform and the associated components described in the copending application may be included in the practice of this invention. 
     Abdominal rocker 14 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 as including a frame 34 which is of symmetrical construction in that each side of the frame and the various components thereof is identical to the other side. Frame 34 includes a base section 36 which is pivotally mounted adjacent to the rigid body support 16. This is accomplished by providing a rod 38 which extends from one side of the frame to the other and is located below support 16. A bracket 39 is secured to the rod on each side of support 16 with a pin, such as a spring pin 40 extending into one of a corresponding set of holes 42 in support 16. Thus, the mounting of the pins 40 to the support 16 permits the user to lay on padding 18 and rock the frame 34 in a known manner. Such rocking action would be achieved while the head and/or neck of the user is disposed on neck rest 44 and while the user&#39;s hands or arms are at padded grip member 46 which extends across frame 34. If desired, neck rest 44 may be swively mounted to cross bar 60 as shown at swivel mounting 48 to permit the neck rest to be pivoted, for example, 90° or otherwise disposed to an inactive condition during various exercises. 
     Although the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 show the adjustable mounting to be accomplished by the series of holes 42, other means could be used for varying the location of mounting. For example, the upper surface of the slant board 12 or some longitudinal attachment on each side of the slant board having a series of spaced grooves, recesses or dimples in which a post, pin or rod on the base section 36 may be selectively inserted. 
     An advantage of utilizing rocker 14 in combination with slant board 12 is that the user&#39;s feet may engage the cross member 32 or, for example, the strap 50 shown in phantom in FIG. 1. As shown strap 50 extends through slots 52 in support 16 and is located over and across padding 18. 
     A further feature of rocker 14 is that grip section 46 may be adjusted in its elevation. Thus, for example, as best shown in FIG. 1 frame 34 includes outer tubing 54 and inner tubing 56 telescoped therein with spring pins or other fasteners selectively determining the amount of extension of outer tubing 56 from inner tubing 54 by engagement, for example, of a spring pin in one of a number of selected holes 58. 
     FIG. 4 shows an alternative form of rocker wherein the frame 34A is located on only one side of the slant board. Thus, as shown therein the grip section 46A is cantilevered extending only from one side of frame 34A. 
     As illustrated, neck rest 44 is mounted on cross bar 60 which is part of frame 34. Preferably the neck rest 44 is permanently mounted at the center of cross bar 60. Where, however, a swivel mechanism 48 is provided to permit the headrest to be moved out of its active position, the invention may also be practiced by permitting the neck rest to slide along cross bar 60 to further move the neck rest to an inactive position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 where the neck rest is mounted on cantilevered cross bar 60 the neck rest could be completely slid off cross bar 60 and thus removed during its inactive position. 
     As noted, the invention may be practiced with any suitable form of slant board or abdominal rocker. FIGS. 5-6 show, for example, an abdominal rocker having the general type of structure illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,520, all of the details of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Such form of abdominal rocker 14A could, however, be modified to include a resistance cord 62 anchored at C-hook 64 at one end and anchored to neck rest loop 66 at its other end, thus providing some resistance during the rocking action. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates additional details which could be utilized with the present invention. As shown therein, the rocking action could be adjusted by incorporating an adjustable friction brake mechanism 68 between frame 34 and bracket 70 mounted to support 16. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,586 for details of a suitable friction brake mechanism. All of the details of U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,586 are incorporated herein by reference thereto. The degree of frictional resistance would be controlled by the rotating of lock knob 71. A friction resistance mechanism can be incorporated in any of the embodiments where appropriate. 
     FIGS. 7-8 illustrate an alternative manner of adjustably and detachably mounting rocker 14 to slant board 12. As shown therein a channel member 72 is secured to each side of support 16 to provide a track on each side of the support 16. Channel 72 may be secured in any suitable manner such as by bolts 74 at each end of the channel member. Frame 34 is dimensioned to fit into the channel 72 and thus the channel acts as a track to permit a rocking action of rocker 14 in the known manner. 
     FIGS. 9-10 illustrate yet another form of detachable mounting of rocker 14 to slant board 12. As shown therein a pin or post 76 extends inwardly from each side of frame 34 and simply rests on the padding 18 of support 16 or preferably on an L-shaped bracket 75 on each side of support 16. In this embodiment the rocker 14 could roll up or down the slant board similar to the use of tracks 72. 
     FIGS. 9-10 also show a practice of the invention where the slant board 12 is completely horizontal. The form of mounting illustrated therein, however, may also be practiced where there is an inclination to the slant board since the user&#39;s weight would tend to maintain the rocker in place. Similarly the slant board of other embodiments may be horizontal. 
     The invention may be practiced by enhancing the exercises possible through the use of additional exercise or resistance components. FIG. 11, for example, shows the inclusion of rowing arms 78 mounted to each side of slant board 12. Reference is made to copending application Ser. No. 480,645 for details of such rowing arms. 
     In addition, FIG. 11 shows the provision of at least one weight 80 mounted to a non-elastic cord 82 with one or two loops 84 at the other end through which the user&#39;s arms or legs would be placed with the cord 82 extending over cross piece 32 or around a pulley on cross piece 32. 
     FIGS. 12-13 show a modification of rocker 14 which represents a distinct departure from the prior art and in itself is a novel form of rocker. As shown therein the rocker 14 includes a device 86 held in the hand or mounted on the legs, but placed directly on the abdomen. Such device 86 incorporates a resistance mechanism to develop the midsection. Device 86 might thus be considered as an abdominal flex device. Basically, the rocker 14 would have the same type of structure previously described but would also include the abdominal flex device 86 which comes in contact with the abdomen. In the illustrated form the abdominal flex component 86 includes a bar 88 that is mounted to frame 34. A centrally mounted outer member 90 is secured to rod or bar 88 extending toward the abdomen. An inner member or shaft 94 is slidably mounted in outer member 90. Alternatively, member 94 may slide along side of member 90. Inner member 94 terminates in a padded abdomen contacting member 92 extending across inner member 94. As best shown in FIG. 13 padded member 92 is urged into contact with the abdomen by some adjustable resistance mechanism such as a spring mounted within outer member 90 and disposed against inner member 94. Thus, when the user rocks forward, varying degrees of resistance would apply to the abdominal muscles. The normal extension of inner member or shaft 94 from outer member 90 could be located at different positions to bring it closer to or further from the abdomen, to exert greater or lesser pressure on the midsection and to benefit people of different sized midsections. 
     In order to facilitate the user sliding under bar 88, rocker 14 is preferably of one-sided frame construction such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 14, thereby leaving an open side. If desired bar 88 may be vertically adjustably mounted to frame 34. FIG. 12 illustrates frame 34 to have telescopic tube sections to which device 86 is mounted. Thus, the bar could be initially raised until the user slides into position and then the bar 88 could be lowered for optimizing its operative location. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a variation of the invention wherein the slant board 12 includes a combined elevating and cross member structure. As shown therein the elevated end of slant board 12 has a stabilizing leg 20 which would rest on the floor in the same manner as the stabilizing leg 20 at the other end of the slant board 12. The elevating mechanism would include an outer member 96 and an inwardly telescoped member 98 with the vertical positioning between the two being controlled by locking member 100 disposed in selected holes 102. A cross member 32 is provided at the top of the elevating mechanism disposed above the upper surface of the inclined support. A further cross member 104 is located below the surface of the support for various optional exercises. 
     FIG. 14 also illustrates the form of rocker 14A shown in FIG. 4 wherein the frame 34A is located at only one side of the slant board. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a further variation of the invention wherein the frame 34 may be pivoted below slant board 12 during periods of non-use. This could be accomplished by either mounting the rocker 14 close enough to one end of the slant board so that it could be rotated completely around from above to below the slant board or by making the length of frame 34 extendable to provide sufficient clearance to pivot completely around to the opposite side of the slant board. In order to pivot the frame 34, it might first be necessary to contract or temporarily detach the elevating structure at the upper end of board 12. 
     As shown in FIG. 15 resistance cords 106 are provided at one end of the slant board. The resistance cords could be placed between the thighs or feet or lower legs or ankles during various exercises. 
     It is to be understood that the combination exercise device may be used with the user&#39;s head at the upper end or at the lower end of the slant board depending upon the particular exercise being done. 
     FIG. 16 shows a rocker 14 which is expandable in width so as to fit over various sizes of slant boards or simply provide a wider rocker when the rocker is used alone. This is accomplished by making the grip member 46B and the neck or head rest rod 60B and the interconnecting frame rod 38 expandable such as being telescopic members. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 the abdominal flex unit 86 is also included and would have an expandable connecting rod 88. 
     The various embodiments previously described show the rocker 14 to be mounted directly to and thus supported by the slant board 12. FIG. 17, however, illustrates a variation of the invention wherein there is no physical connection between the rocker 14 and slant board 12. Rather, in the embodiment shown therein the cross member 38 is located beneath but out of contact with the support 16, while the neck rest or head rest 44 and grip section 46 would be located above support 16. 
     In its broad aspect the invention consists of combining an abdominal rocker and a slant board. Preferably the two units are detachably mounted together so that either unit could be used individually or both could be used in combination. While it is preferable to mount the rocker directly to the slant board, as shown in FIG. 17 there need be no physical connection and portions of the rocker could actually be below the slant board. 
     The invention could be practiced where the rocker is structured to attach to only one specific slant board. Alternatively, and preferably, however, the rocker should be capable of attachment to various types of benches or slant boards. Similarly, the slant board could be structured for attachment or use with only one specific abdominal rocker. Alternatively, the slant board could be structured for attachment to different types of rockers. 
     Any suitable manner of mounting of the rocker and slant board may be utilized such as grooves, tracks, pivots, pins/holes, clamps/clips, screws sliding onto pressure fit or dropping onto or over structure. The mount for the rocker may have only one position, but preferably could be in a number of selected positions. 
     The invention could be practiced with various types of exercises. The preferred, but not sole intent, however, is to exercise the abdominal and back muscles. The invention could be also used for exercising the arms, chest, hips and legs. Typical abdominal exercises could include crunches, sit-ups (either flat or inclined), rocking sit-ups (either flat or inclined) and bent/straight leg lifts. Typical back exercises include leg lifts with or without resistance, hyper extensions, backward rocking and rowing. Typical arm and leg exercises would include rowing, push-ups, leg raises and leg pull downs. The invention may be practiced where the rocker is permanently attached to the slant board or preferably where it is detachable. Alternatively, the rocker or various components thereof could be repositioned to be located out of the way during periods of non-use. FIG. 15, for example, illustrates a fold down non-use position of the rocker. 
     It is to be understood that while various embodiments have been described having various features, the invention may be practiced utilizing features of different embodiments with each other within the spirit of this invention.