Patent Publication Number: US-8113997-B2

Title: Ab wave abdominal exerciser

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 61/097,257 filed on Sep. 16, 2008, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a musculature-building device for personal and commercial use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a exerciser that is effective in developing and strengthening muscles of a stomach, arms, legs and back. Other muscle groups may also be positively affected indirectly through an association with the muscle groups being benefited directly. 
     The devices that exist in the art tend to be very bulky, expensive, or too simplistic to be effective. The simplest form of a prior art exerciser may be a bench with a foot brace, with a person sitting on such a bench leaning backward while anchoring feet within a foot brace. Such an exerciser only trains one group of muscles and is therefore not very time efficient. 
     More mechanized and sophisticated forms of abdominal trainers are available. However, they tend to require many adjustments, attachments and other forms of expensive and difficult to use contraptions that distract from the spirit and purpose of the endeavor. Also the prior art devices generally specialize on strengthening a single muscle group or a close-knit group of muscles. Whereas the present invention is capable of exercising muscles in at least five major areas of the body. Additionally, the prior art devices rely on a range of adaptations that create resistance to the rhythmic motion of an exercise. However, these adaptations tend to be linear and unnatural. On the contrary, the present invention utilizes a curvature of a rail to harness the ever-present force gravity to create an effective, yet simple and compact exerciser. 
     This exercise product focuses mainly on of the conditioning of the abdominal area. The unit exercises the upper, middle, and lower Abs. Upper body exercises can also be incorporated into the unit. The principle of the unit is the back and forth sliding of the seat along at least one, and preferably a set of curved rails. The general movement of sit-ups is performed with the added feature of a sliding seat. Generally, sit-ups are done while lying down and rotating bending about the hip/stomach area. The present invention provides a similar movement with the added sliding feature, which also incorporates the use of a person&#39;s legs. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0118104 discloses an abdominal muscle exercise machine that generally contains a diagonal member with an adjustable seat and a backrest and a pivot member that pivots with respect to the diagonal member. A chest push can be mechanically coupled to the pivot member through an adjustable force multiplier. An optional counterweight can be placed near one end of the pivot member to lighten the force, or an optional load weight can be placed near the other end of the pivot member to increase the force. The pivot member can be constructed to telescope or otherwise adjust for different body sizes. The machine provides a smooth exercise where the top and bottom portions of the body move together in a linked fashion. The machine of the present invention works without heavy external weights. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,894 discloses an abdominal muscle exercise machine having a body support plate having a lower surface, a front end, and a rear end; front and rear slide shafts; first and second tubular quills slidably interconnecting the front and rear slide shafts and the lower surface of the body support plate for alternate forward and rearward sliding motions of the front and rear slide shaft; a front “T” handle; a roller bracket interconnecting the front “T” handle and the front slide shaft for alternate forward and rearward rolling motion of the front “T” handle along the front slide shaft; and a rear “T” handle fixedly attached to the rear slide shaft. 
     Various implements are known in the art, but fail to address all of the problems solved by the invention described herein. One embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail herein below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses an article of manufacture having at least one curved rail that is supported in an upright position with a supporting means. The supporting means may be a stand, which may also contain at least one-foot holder and an arm bar. The curved rail or rails contains a seat that is capable of laterally sliding along the curved rail. The seat may swivel and contain handles for additional set of exercises. 
     Therefore, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following, and others not mentioned, desirable and useful benefits and objectives. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective exerciser. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an exerciser that is easy to use and which is practical and inexpensive to produce and distribute. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser capable of unique sliding movement on curved rails. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of having a fixed or swivel seat. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser with adjustable length foot holders. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser with adjustable length arm bars or seat handles. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser where arm muscles are being trained along with abdominal, back or leg muscles, by using arm bars, which may rock against a resistive force. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser being capable of varying the sliding resistance of a seat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a folded view of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrate different exercise routines that may be carried out by using the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the side of the present invention. Shown are an apparatus  5 , a rail  10  that is preferably curved, a front bracket  12 , a back bracket  14 , a buffer  16 , a front slope  17 , a back slope  18 , a peak  19 , a stand  20 , a longitudinal brace  21 , a front end  22 , a back end  24 , a stand top  26 , a stand bottom  28 , a set screw  29 , a front end rail  30 , fasteners  31 , a bracket  32 , a back end rail  40 , sliding elements  42 , a front section  50 , an extension bar  51 , a perpendicular bar  52 , a foot holder  53 , a strap  54 , a mount area  55 , a foot platform  56 , a bumpy surface  56 A, a seat  60 , a middle of the seat  62 , edges of the seat  64 , a slider  66 , a handle  70 , a grip area  72 , a mount area  74 , an arm bar  80 , a first part  81 , a second part  82 , a top end  83 , a bottom end  84 , a set screw  85 , a grip area  86 , a locking bracket  87 , locking slots  88 , a locking pin  89 , scores  90 , mount sockets  91 , rail terminators  92 , a locking plate  93 , a mount surface  94 , a pivot  95  and a flat face  96 . 
     The present invention can fulfill the spirit of the invention with just one rail  10 . However, it is preferable to have two or more rails  10 . The rail  10  may preferably be manufactured out of stainless steel, as well as, but not limited to, iron, aluminum, a metal alloy, a reinforced polymer, a polyvinyl composite, or wood. The rail  10  may preferably be a hollow tube, but may also be a solid tube or a square and hollow or solid bar. The rail  10  may have a chrome-plated surface for shiny, clean and polished appearance. However this is not functionally or structurally required. The length of the rail  10  between the back bracket  14  and the front bracket  12  may be between 4 and 7 feet. 
     The rail  10  preferably has a curved sideways ellipse, thus forming a pair of parallel rails  10 . The rails  10  may be parallel and linked with the front bracket  12  or the back bracket  14  or with the buffers  16 , and not have a rounded elliptical linkage as shown at distal ends  10 A and  10 B. The front slope  17  and the back slope  18  are bent toward the stand  20 , with the peak  19  being in the middle. This combination of slopes  17  and  18  and a peak  19  form a curved rail  10 , which is the preferred embodiment for the rail  10 . A convex rail is shown, having a peak  19 . Alternatively the rail  10  may be reversed with slopes  17  and  18  serving as peaks and with the peak  19  forming a trough. Since the rail  10  forms an arc above the stand  20  it is preferable that the central angle of this arc may be 2 and 5 degrees. Each of the two invisible vectors creating the segment of the arc represented by the rail  10  is equal to the length of the radius of the arc. The preferable range of the radius of the full circle, whose arc is represented by the curvature of the rail  10 , may be between 10 and 15 feet. Alternatively, the rail  10  may be substantially straight, and may contain mounting hooks or other means, to mount an assortment of resistance elements, such as bands and springs. 
     The rail  10  may be attached to the stand  10 , which may be the preferred means for supporting the rail  10 , with the front bracket  12  and with the back bracket  14 . The buffers  16  may be integral with the front and back bracket  12  and  14 , or may be separate. The means of attaching the rail  10  to the brackets  12  and  14  and for attaching the brackets  12  and  14  to the means for supporting the rail  10  may be with fasteners, clamps, welding or crimping. The brackets  12  and  14  or the buffer  16 , or the distal ends  10 A and  10 B may function as a final travel point of the seat  60 . The front bracket  12  preferably forms an acute forward facing angle, with one vector of the angle resting on the stand  10  and the other vector reaching up to secure the rail  10  using a means described above. The back bracket  14  may be the same or similar acute angle as the front bracket  12 , and faces toward the back end  24  of the stand  20 . Alternatively, the brackets  12  and  14  may be monolithic with the stand  20 , and may form posts jutting out of the longitudinal brace  21 , towards the rail  10 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the slider  66  of the seat  60  may slide or ride longitudinally along the rail  10 , and enables the slidable connectivity between the seat  60  and the rail  10 . The slider  66  may contain internal ball bearings or wheels that are in direct contact with the surface of the rail  10 . The slider  66  need not contain bearings, but may be a lubricated sleeve surrounding the rail  10  or a sleeve made of a material with low frictional coefficient, and not contain any wheels or ball bearings. In another alternative, the slider  66  may be integral to the seat  60 . The slider  66  preferably also contains a swiveling mechanism for the seat  60  and may additionally contain a pin or peg or a lever that would prevent swiveling by the seat  60  or that would enable it. The swiveling mechanism is not shown, but is generally well known in the art and is essentially an axle with at least one washer or flange that face each other, but other embodiments are possible as well. 
     One using the apparatus  5 , which is the article of manufacture embodied in the present invention, would push off with legs, while sitting on the seat  60 . The seat  60  may start out at the peak  19  or either the front slope  17  or the back slope  18 . The force of gravity coupled with the frictional resistance between the seat  60  and the rail  10 , provides the resistive force that causes the desired strain of the targeted muscle groups, as the seat is pushed backward, up the front slope  17 , or forwards and up the back slope  18 . The peak  19  forms little gravitational resistance. However, the inertia of the initial push-off propels the seat  60  downward the opposite slope  17  or  18  and thereby persists with the exercise by placing counteractive stress on the targeted muscle groups. This maneuver is repeated multiple times as desired by the training routine. 
     The resistance of the rail  10  may be increased by having the capability to adjust the height of the front slope  17  or the back slope  18 . High adjustment may be accomplished by mounting and adjustment screw, a pin or a clam on either the front bracket  12  or the back bracket  14 , or the bracket  32  on either the front or back rail  30  of  40 . Such a screw, clamp or pin would then be mounted within an opening in the longitudinal brace  21 . Lengthening or shortening the length of such a screw or clamp would increase or decrease the pitch of either the front slope  17  or the back slope  18 . Alternatively, a rod or a notched brace may be used, with either the brackets  12  and  14 , or the longitudinal brace  21 , or the bracket  30  having set a set screw that would determine the elongation distance of such a rod or a notched brace, which would in turn determine the level of elevation of either slope  17  or  18  and of the degree of resistance resulting from the elevation pitch. 
     The rail or rails  10 , upon which the seat  60  slides on, are pictured as tubular but could be a variety of shapes and forms. The rails  10  are curved in an arc, and are held in an upright position, i.e., with the middle of the rail  10  at a higher elevation than both ends, which is also referred herein as the peak  19 . The rails  10  could be fixed at each end or swivel. The back end rail  40  could also made to slide from side to side. The rails  10  or the front and back rails  30  and  40 , could have a combination of fixed end points, swivel end points or sliding end points. 
     The seat  60  may be swiveling and it preferably contains handles  70  that are square or elliptical in appearance. The seat  60  can rotate laterally, which expands the range of motion and muscles used for the abdominal exercise. Handles  70  attach to the seat provide another degree of exercise movement. The handles  70  are preferably mounted to the side of the seat  60  at the mount area  74 . The handles  70  may contain a specially coated grip area  72 , which may be a soft and/or frictional surface or a sleeve made of rubber, resin or a frictional and/or soft polymer. The swivel action may be desired to train the oblique muscle group, located on the sides of a person&#39;s trunk. The seat  60  may be cushioned or hard and may be upholstered with leather or plastic may use any other filling, cushioning or upholstery. For a better grip on a user&#39;s buttocks the seat  60  may contain a recessed middle  62  and a slightly elevated edge  64 . Either of these areas may contain frictional or jagged elements, or may be substantially flat and smooth. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the stand  20  provides the preferred means of support for the rail  10 . The stand  20  may be made of a longitudinal brace  21 , which may provide the main mounting point for the rail  10 , the front end rail  30 , and the back end rail  40 . The front and back end rails  30  and  40  function to provide lateral stability of the apparatus  5 . The front end rail  30  and the back end rail  40  as well as the front end  22  and the back end  24  may be terminated by rail terminators  92 , which function to conceal sharp edges of the structural components of the stand  20 . Alternatively, the means for supporting the rail  10  may be a circular or a square brace (not shown or legs that may support the rail  10  above the floor. Any other embodiment for the supporting means may be used. 
     The longitudinal brace  21  is shown mounted on top of the front-end rail  30  and the back end rail  40 . Both front end rail  30  and the back end rail  40  may additionally contain fasteners  31  and a bracket  32 . The front end rail  30  or the back end rail  40  may swivel about the joint between the longitudinal brace  21  and the bracket  30 . The swiveling feature may be accomplished by disposing a rod or an axle within opposite facing openings of the longitudinal brace  21  and either or both of the front end or the back end rails  30  or  40 , or between the longitudinal brace  21  and the bracket  30  that may be fastened to either or both the front end and back end rails  30  and  40 . The longitudinal brace and the front and back end rails  30  and  40  may then be kept apart by two ends of a swivel axle that may be abutting hard surfaces within the openings or by ball bearings separating the longitudinal brace  21  and the two rails  30  and  40 . The bracket  32  is not strictly necessary, but may facilitate the swiveling functionality. Additionally the bracket  32  may be used to enable the pitch adjustment of the front slope  17  or the back slope  18  of the rail  10 . 
     The front end brace  30  additionally contains at least one arm bar  80 . Arm bars  80 , also referred to herein as arm posts, are incorporated for assisting the exercise movement. Preferably there should be two arm bars  80  that are disposed along the front-end brace  30 , within the fixating brackets  87 , and substantially towards the terminuses  92 . The arm bar  80  may be used as a stationary support to train the muscles of the arms and the upper body. The arm bars  80  may be fixed, adjustable or free moving. These arm bars  80  may or may not have resistance for upper body exercise. They may be dependent or independent of each or the unit. The arm bar  80  may be able to rock back and forth against a resistive force, which may be a band or a spring. In such an embodiment a user may additionally or primarily train his or her upper body and arms by rocking the arm bars  80  backwards and forwards, while the remaining stationary in the seat  60 , or while executing abdominal exercises using the seat  60 . Under these circumstances, a user may swing each arm bar  80  in the same or in alternating directions, and each arm bar may swing independently or in coordination with the other arm bar  80  or with the motion of the seat  60 . 
     The arm bar  80  is preferably adjustable, having a first part  81  and a second part  82 . The first part  81  and the second part  82  are capable of sliding within each other to vary the length of the arm bar  80 , with a desired length being secured with a set screw  85 , which may also be a spring loaded pin, a regular pin or any other fixating means common in holding two telescoping segments at a desired length. The first part  81  may additionally contain indentations or scores  90  that may further secure the set screw  85 . The second part  82  may contain a grip area  86 , having frictional elements or coatings to enhance one&#39;s grip during an exercise routine. 
     The first part  81  may be mounted within a mount socket  91  at the bottom end  84 , which is then mounted between semicircular locking plates  93  of the fixating bracket  87 . Alternatively, the bottom end  84  may be mounted directly within the locking plates  93 , without a mount socket  91 . Also possible is just one locking plate  93  for each arm bar  80 . In an alternative embodiment, the first part  81  and the second part  82  may be merged into a single part, and the arm bars  80  may be strait, circular, or twisted into any other shape. 
     The locking bracket  87  may preferably be made up of a base surface  94  and two semicircular locking plates  93 . The base surface  94  may be mounted unto the front-end rail  30  with either welding, fastening, gluing or using any other means of permanent attachment. The preferred orientation of the base surface  94  and the locking plates  93  is perpendicular to the axis of the front-end rail  30 . There may be just one locking plate  93  for each base surface  94 . The locking pin  89  is preferably a spring-loaded pin that is capable of fitting within locking slots  88  of the locking plates  93 . The locking pin  89  may be used to adjust the upright angle of the arm bar  80  by depressing the locking pin  89  until it clears the locking slot  88 . The arm bar  80  is then rotated about the pivot  95  until a desired locking slot  88  is reached. The top end  83  may be preferably slanted, with the flat face  96  facing away from the seat  60 . The flat face  96  may be used to a user with hand support when he or she wishes to resume an erect position after using the apparatus  5 . 
     The back end rail  40  provides supplemental lateral support to the apparatus  5 . The elongated brace  21  is attached to the back end rail  40  with fasteners, adhesive, and welding or any other means of attachment. This attachment may be direct or contain a bracket  30 , which may additionally support a swivel functionality, as described herein. Preferably the back end rail  40  contains a sliding section or element  42 , which is capable from emerging or submerging within the back end rail  40 . The sliding elements  42  may have a terminus  92  and a stopper not shown, that would prevent the sliding element  42  from being completely removed the back end rail  40 , which may cause it to get lost. The sliding element  42  may be utilized to create additional lateral support for aggressive exercising or when the apparatus  5  is being used by an especially heavy person. 
     The front end  22  preferably contains a front section  50 . A front section  50  is preferably made up of an extension bar  51 , which is inserted into the front end  22  of the longitudinal brace  21 . The extension bar  51  is capable is sliding into or out of the longitudinal brace  21 , thus providing adjustability of length for the means for support of the rail  10 , which may be the preferred embodiment of a stand  20 . The desired length of extension or submersion of the extension bar  51  may be secured with set screw  29 , which may be a threaded fastener that would go through an opening along the longitudinal brace  21 , then up against the side of an extension bar  51 , thus immobilizing it. Other embodiments of a setscrew  29  may be a spring-loaded pin, or a simple insert pin. In case of a pin the extension bar  51  may contain scores that would meet and admit such a pin. The setscrew  29  may be similar to or the same as the set screw  85 . Perpendicularly attached to the extension bar  51  is the perpendicular bar  52 , thus forming a “T”. In an alternative embodiment the stand  20  may not be extendable, therefore there perpendicular bar  51  or the foot holder  53  may be mounted directly unto the front end  22  of the supporting means for the rail  10 . 
     The perpendicular bar  52  would preferably contain at least one-foot holder  53 , which may be essentially a stirrup. The foot-holders  53  assist in anchoring the feet so an exercise can be performed. Each foot holder  53  preferably contains a strap  54  for securing a human foot to a foot platform  56 . The strap  54  may be adjustable through the use of overlapping straps  54  having cooperating sides of a Velcro fastener or a belt buckle fastener. Each platform  56  may be attached at the mount area  55 , which may be in the middle or the bottom of the foot platform  56 . The foot holders  53  may be able to rotate about the perpendicular bar  52 . Such rotation may or may not be preventable though the use of set screws or pins. Furthermore the foot platform  56  may contain a bumpy or jagged surface  56 A which may serve to massage the soles of bare or socked feet of a user of the present invention or to create friction against soles of feet or shoes, so as to better enable the retention of a user&#39;s feet by the foot platforms  56 , while the invention is being used for exercise. Alternatively, the front section  50  may be omitted, with a user placing feet directly on the ground or floor that is supporting the supporting means for the rail  10 . 
     Alternatively, the perpendicular bar  52  may function as a foot holder. In this embodiment a user may wrap the anterior or top portion of his or her foot around the perpendicular bar  52  and proceed with an exercise routine. Alternatively the foot holder  53  may be two or more perpendicular bars  52 , disposed as a later at the end of an extension bar  51 . A user may use this by placing the posterior side legs on a top perpendicular bar  52  and placing the anterior portion of a foot on the bottom perpendicular bar, or by placing ones foot in between two perpendicular bars  52 . In yet another alternative the foot holder may be a soft or hard loop for snagging a user&#39;s foot or any other means that is capable of immobilizing a user&#39;s foot during abdominal, leg and upper body exercises. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the present invention. Shown are an apparatus  5 , a rail  10 , a front bracket  12 , a back bracket  14 , a buffer  16 , a front slope  17 , a back slope  18 , a peak  19 , a stand  20 , a longitudinal brace  21 , a front end  22 , a back end  24 , a stand top  26 , a set screw  29 , a front end rail  30 , fasteners  31 , a bracket  32 , a back end rail  40 , sliding element  42 , a front section  50 , an extension bar  51 , a perpendicular bar  52 , a foot holder  53 , a strap  54 , a mount area  55 , a foot platform  56 , a bumpy surface  56 A, a seat  60 , a handle  70 , a grip area  72 , a mount area  74 , an arm bar  80 , a first part  81 , a second part  82 , a top end  83 , a bottom end  84 , a set screw  85 , a grip area  86 , a locking bracket  87 , scores  90 , mount sockets  91 , rail terminators  92 , a locking plate  93 , a mount surface  94 , a pivot  95 , and a flat face  96 . The length of the longitudinal brace  21  of the stand  20  may preferably be between 5 and 7 feet when fully extended and between 3.5 and 4.5 feet and fully collapsed. The width of the front-end rail  30  may be between 1.5 and 3 feet. The width of the back end rail  40  may be between 0.5 and 1.5 feet when not extended and between 0.5 and 3 feet when extended. Note that both the front-end rail  30  and the back end rail  40  may contain sliding elements  42  and that both the frond end rail and the back end rail may have a width or position of the rail  10  that is slidably adjustable. Slidably means that the sliding elements  42  may slide in or out of the front end rail  30  or the back end rail  40 , until a desired width of the rail  30  or  40  or the position along the sliding element  42  has been established. The slidability need not be locked but may be utilized as another form of lateral exercise motion, where a user may rock the seat  60  from side to side and achieve a sliding of the apparatus  5  along the sliding element  42 . The spread between the twin rails  10  may be between 1 to 5 inches. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the present invention. Shown are an apparatus  5 , a rail  10 , a front bracket  12 , a back bracket  14 , a buffer  16 , a stand  20 , a longitudinal brace  21 , a front end  22 , a back end  24 , a stand bottom  28 , a front end rail  30 , a bracket  32 , a back end rail  40 , a sliding element  42 , a front section  50 , an extension bar  51 , a perpendicular bar  52 , a foot holder  53 , a seat  60 , a handle  70 , a grip area  72 , a mount area  74 , an arm bar  80 , a first part  81 , a second part  82 , a top end  83 , a bottom end  84 , a set screw  85 , a grip area  86 , a locking bracket  87 , scores  90 , mount sockets  91 , and rail terminators  92 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the present invention. Demonstrated in figure are an apparatus  5 , a curved rail  10 , a stand  20 , a longitudinal brace  21 , a front end rail  30 , a bracket  32 , a perpendicular bar  52 , a foot holder  53 , a strap  54 , a seat  60 , a middle of the seat  62 , edges of the seat  64 , a handle  70 , an arm bar  80 , a top end  83 , a bottom end  84 , a locking bracket  87 , and rail terminators  92 . The longitudinal brace  21 , the front and back end rails  30  and  40 , and the arm bars  80  may be square or elliptical and either hollow or solid. These elements should preferably be made of steel, iron, aluminum, wood or a metal alloy. They can also be manufactured from a polymer, preferably a reinforced polymer or a reinforced resin, rubber, or a polyvinyl compound. Besides terminators  92  other protective anti-scratch elements may be provided, such as elements that prevent the stand  20  from scratching the floor. 
       FIG. 5  is a prospective top view of the present invention in its fully folded state. Shown are an apparatus  5 , a curved rail  10 , a front bracket  12 , a back bracket  14 , a buffer  16 , a front slope  17 , a back slope  18 , a peak  19 , a stand  20 , a longitudinal brace  21 , a front end  22 , a back end  24 , a stand top  26 , a stand bottom  28 , a set screw  29 , a front end rail  30 , fasteners  31 , a bracket  32 , a back end rail  40 , sliding element  42 , a front section  50 , an extension bar  51 , a perpendicular bar  52 , a foot holder  53 , a strap  54 , a mount area  55 , a foot platform  56 , a bumpy surface  56 A, a seat  60 , a slider  66 , a handle  70 , a grip area  72 , a mount area  74 , an arm bar  80 , a first part  81 , a second part  82 , a top end  83 , a bottom end  84 , a set screw  85 , a grip area  86 , a locking bracket  87 , locking slots  88 , scores  90 , rail terminators  92 , a locking plate  93 , a mount surface  94 , and a pivot  95 . The present invention may be just up to 0.5 feet tall when fully folded and between 3 and 4.5 feed when fully expanded. When collapsing or folding the apparatus  5 , the seat  60  may slide toward one of the slopes  17  or  18  to lower the overall profile the unit. A separate locking pin (not shown) may be provided within the seat  60  or the runner  66  to immobilize the seat  60  for storage. This way, if the apparatus is placed on one of the ends  22  or  24 , the seat  60  will not come rushing downwards, possibly causing injury or damage. 
     The present invention may be used to run an assortment of exercises that are mentioned herein and others not mentioned.  FIG. 6A  demonstrates one exercise routine that starts with a user assuming an open position toward the front end  22  or front slope  17  of the rail  10 , and while sliding towards the back end  24  or the back slope  18 , bending into a crunched position. This movement may be repeated in rhythm. 
       FIG. 6B  shows another exercise where a user sits on seat  60  which may be capable of swiveling. A user positions his or her feet within foot holders  53  and secure a strap  54 . A user then slides the seat  60  to front end of the rail  10 , then leans slightly backwards in an extension position. The seat handles or handles  70  or arm bars  80 , also known as arm posts, may be used to assist and to prevent falling while moving forward or backwards upon the seat  60 . A user then slides backward along the rails  10  while bending forward in a crunched position, then reverses the sliding movement forward while returning to starting position. The user may repeat the movement over and over, as desired. The movement is an open and close, similar to a general sit-up but with the added movement of sliding forward and backwards on an arc. This movement will have a low impact, full range of motion of Abs, Legs, and Back as well as incorporating the arms throughout the movement. For added resistance the front end  22  or the front slope  17  may be raised or elevated for advanced users. 
       FIG. 6C  shows that releasing the seat  60  from the fixed position to a swivel position can vary exercises. This permits working the side abdominal or oblique muscles, as well as the arms and upper body. The unit may incorporate a sliding back end or sliding elements  42  instead of being a fixed back end rail  40 . The back end sliding elements  42  or the entire back end rail  40  may slide along a rail  10 , which will permit left and right sliding movement in addition to the straightforward and back movement. One can also use the present invention for leg exercises. For example, single or double leg squats as well as working the calf muscles (pointing and extending toes or feet) with one&#39;s legs fully extended and locked in position. 
       FIG. 6D  demonstrates that the apparatus  5  may also be used for kneeling exercise by kneeling behind the unit and grabbing the seat handles  70 . One then slides forward while keeping knees fixed in place. The seat  60  is pushed forward along the rails  10  towards the front of the unit  22  and then returned back to starting position. The position of the knees may be adjusted to maximize the sliding extension effect. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be Understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.