Patent Publication Number: US-9895574-B2

Title: Exercise device for strengthening of abdominal muscles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an exercise device for strengthening of abdominal muscles, especially an exercise device comprising a resistance mechanism composed of a hydraulic system with adjustable resistance. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Strong abdominal muscles play an important role in many health aspects, including also back pain, which is frequently caused by an imbalance between the strength of the back and abdominal muscles, up to supporting the correct position of internal organs. 
     Exercises for strengthening of the abdominal muscles range from sit-ups and crunches, which require almost no exercising device, up to use of devices—exercise devices, which exercise abdominal muscles in a seated or in a supine position. 
     These exercise devices for strengthening of the abdominal muscles apply the exercise principle of sit-ups and crunches, while providing a possibility of creating a load during the exercise. 
     Such devices are disclosed e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,750; US 2003/0060347 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 7,481,752 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,541 B2. 
     Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,750 discloses a device for exercising of mainly the abdominal part of the body, and strengthening of the abdominal muscles, where a repeated sit-up movement is performed against the power of a hydraulic piston. The device comprises a frame with a central longitudinal part provided with legs at its ends, and a bench for the user is placed on this central part, substantially horizontally, actually with a slight declination. The declination of the bench causes the head of the user to be lower than his lower body part when lying on the bench. An extension member is attached perpendicularly to the central longitudinal part, on which an arm is pivotally connected. One end of the arm is bent over the bench and the other end is mounted to the hydraulic piston. Supports for the exerciser&#39;s legs are attached to the legs of the frame. The exerciser, when exercising on this device, is seated at the center of the bench near the perpendicular extension member, puts his legs under the leg supports and the end of the arm bent over the bench is held at his chest. The exerciser then performs sit-up exercise against the power of the hydraulic piston mounted at the other end of the pivotally connected arm. 
     Document US 2003/0060347 A1 discloses a device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles, which comprises a base frame composed of two, for the purpose of length adjustment, opposing moving frames. A footplate for a user&#39;s legs is mounted on the second frame of the base frame, and a seat for the user and a pivoted back support are mounted on the first frame of the base frame. The back support has a lower part mounted on a supporting frame, which is pivoted to the first base frame and an upper part of the back support is pivoted to a lower part of the back support. Two handlebars extend from the frame of the upper back support at the upper side, which the user holds by his hands. Between the supporting frame of the back support and the first part of the base frame a damping device in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is provided. The user, when exercising on this device, is seated on the seat, puts his legs against the footplate, leans his back against the back support and holds the handlebars at the upper part of the back support. With this device, the user performs a sit-up exercise, while the damping device in one instance creates resistance against muscle strength, thus strengthening the abdominal muscles, and further dampens the speed of the movement of the back support, whereby no sudden pressure is developed on the neck of the user and therefore this device is safe for use. 
     Document U.S. Pat. No. 7,481,752 B2 discloses a device for strengthening of abdominal muscles, which is composed of a frame on which the user is seated, the frame has a support arm tilted backward from vertical, with the lower lumbar region of the user against a seat member. The upper part of the seat member assembly is pivotally attached to the frame. The upper part of the seat assembly has a pair of handles and a pad designed to lay against the upper back of the user. The seat back assembly moves with the upper back of the user, and the hands of the user assist in maintaining the upper seat back member against the upper back, while the user moves from a tilted back position to a crunch position, and simulating a traditional sit-up movement. A hydraulic or pneumatic member is attached between the upper part of the seat back assembly and the base of the device, which creates a resistance force when the upper back rest assembly moves with the movement of the user. The hydraulic or pneumatic member is placed so as to provide the smallest resistance force at the beginning of the exercise, i.e. when the torso is lifted, and to increase the resistance force while the torso is moved to an upright position, when the body force needed to overcome the weight of the torso decreases. 
     Document U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,541 B2 discloses an abdominal exercise machine, having a floor supported bench and a mast pivotally connected to an end of the bench. A pair of double acting hydraulic cylinders are pivotally connected between the end of the bench and the mast. A footrest assembly is connected to the mast. A recumbent exerciser exercises abdominal muscles by pushing and pulling the mast against the resistance of the hydraulic cylinders. 
     Sit-up exercises with anchored feet besides exercising the abdominal muscles also exercises the hip flexors. This exercise increases pressure on the lumbar region. A sit-up exercise with feet freely put on the ground does not allow the use of external resistance, which is necessary for stimulation of muscle fibers while increasing the strength of abdominal muscles. Crunches exercise abdominal muscles isolatedly, but not in the whole range of motion. The mentioned exercises show these disadvantages also when performed on exercise devices, which are basically developed according to movements performed during sit-up exercises and crunches. 
     The mentioned disadvantages are eliminated by an exercise device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles disclosed in US 2007/0149371 A1 of the same applicant, which comprises a frame to which a press arm is connected rotatively in a vertical plane. To the press arm a resistance mechanism is connected, preferably a hydraulic cylinder, which exerts resistance force only in a direction against downward movement of the press arm. Free end of the arm can move in a range of motion from a user&#39;s waist area to the user&#39;s ankles. This device strengthens abdominal muscles isolatedly, while the user is standing. However, no undesired stress on the spine occurs, i.e. the press arm is not loaded when it is lifted (upward movement) and thus no extra stress is applied to the spine as it is e.g. when lifting a weight. However, a disadvantage of this device is that a user exercising on the device lacks the feeling of exercising of the abdominal muscles, as occurs with sit-up exercises and crunches. The user thus perceives exercising on this device as insufficient, or without an effect. This device also, as the user is standing, employs weight of the torso to overcome the resistance force, which decreases the effect of the exercise when exercising on this device. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles, which applies the principle of sit-up exercises and crunches when exercising the abdominal muscles, wherein exercising on such a device does not have the disadvantages of the traditional sit-up exercises and crunches, performed either without or with use of the exercising device, and performed either without or with an additional resistance force. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a device, which removes a pressure developed on the lumbar region when bending the torso during exercising of the abdominal muscles. 
     An object of the invention is also a device for strengthening of abdominal muscles, which substantively eliminates disadvantages of devices known from prior art. 
     Another object of the invention is effective use of an isokinetic resistance mechanism in a device for strengthening of abdominal muscles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above mentioned objects are met with the exercise device for strengthening of abdominal muscles, which is characterized in that it comprises inclined bench for supporting of the back of the user, and to this inclined bench at its lower part a press arm is connected, which is at its one end pivotally mounted and its other end is situated above the inclined bench, and is provided with means for pushing and/or holding by user&#39;s hands. 
     The press arm is connected with a resistance mechanism, which exerts a resistance force only when the arm is pushed, what occurs during lifting and bending of the torso from lying supine on the inclined bench to a seated position. 
     It is advantageous, when the resistance mechanism is isokinetic, or hydraulic, with adjustable resistance. 
     It is also advantageous, when the inclined bench for supporting the user&#39;s back comprises a groove for the spine. This groove can be in the form of a depression, slot, i.e. the inclined bench is actually divided, or in any other form preventing any pressure from developing directly on the spine when lying on the bench. It is also clear for the person skilled in the art, that regarding the length, the groove can be provided on the entire length of the bench or also only on the part of the length of the bench, supporting the spine, whereas at the place supporting the head, the bench is without the groove. 
     The device according to this invention applies the principle of sit-up exercise and crunches, while providing the exercises with significant improvements. Firstly, it increases the efficiency of the exercise for strengthening of the abdominal muscles in an isolated manner. This comes from the arrangement comprising an inclined bench above which the press arm is arranged so that the press arm is pushed by the user&#39;s extended straight arms. The device, during the lifting phase, when lifting and bending the torso from the inclined bench with simultaneous pushing of the press arm by the hands of the user and pushing the lower part of the torso against the inclined bench, allows exercise of the abdominal muscles, i.e. by flexing and bending of the abdominal part, and prevents exercise only by lifting of the straightened torso around the hips. The groove on the inclined bench allows bending of the torso without any undesired pressure to be developed on the spine from the bench. Using the resistance mechanism acting in one direction, the abdominal muscles effectively strengthen when lifting the torso from a lying to seated position, while during backward movement the abdominal muscles of the lower back part do not need to act against any force except the weight of the torso, but just until the torso is laid on the inclined bench, thus significantly reducing the load on the lower back part. 
     Due to the arrangement of the device having the inclined bench and preferably with the groove for the spine, the device according to the invention is also suitable for physically weak and elderly users, because the user lifts the torso from the inclined bench and not from a horizontal position or declined position. Lifting of the torso from a horizontal position or a declined position can be a substantial obstacle for physically weak and elderly users to effectively exercise and strengthen of the abdominal muscles. 
     It is advantageous, if the means for pushing and/or holding by user&#39;s hands are positioned on the press arm so, that when the user pushes the arm with his extended straight arms, during bending of the torso, his arms move upwards above his head. In this case the possibility of bending the arms in the elbow joint during the exercise is limited. Thus, the possibility of increasing of the force applied upon the arm of the device by extending the bent arms against the arm of the device is limited, i.e. the push force can not be developed by extending the bent arms against the arm of the device, thus values of the force, exerted by the abdominal muscles through extended arms when flexing and bending the torso, can not be biased when the force applied on the press arm is measured. 
     A frame with raised feet support can be connected to the base frame. The device allows exercising with feet placed on the ground. To entirely prevent the work of muscles of the legs during the exercise, the user can rest his feet against raised feet support. This actually prevents the user from helping himself by pushing his feet against the ground, and thus separate exercising of abdominal muscles is improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The arrangement of the exercise device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles according to the invention is shown in the attached drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of the device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of the device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles according to the invention with a schematically shown user in the positions of sit-up exercises and crunches with his feet rested on a raised feet support; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of the device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles according to the invention with a schematically shown user in the positions of sit-up exercises and crunches with his feet hooked under the lower holding rolls; 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of the device for strengthening of the abdominal muscles according to the invention with a schematically shown user in the positions of sit-up exercises and crunches with his feet pushed against the upper supporting bars; and 
         FIG. 6  shows the bench of the device according to the invention with the groove for the user&#39;s spine, together with the seat. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION 
     The exercise device for strengthening of abdominal muscles according to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6  comprises a base frame  1 , which in this example is composed of two parts. One part is a supporting frame  2  comprising a bench  3 , mount of a press arm  4  and a frame  5  of the raised feet support  11 , upper feet supporting bars  12 , and lower feet holding rolls  13 . The second part is a support  6 , on which a seat  7  and a connection of a resistance mechanism  9  by means of the holder  10 , are positioned. The supporting frame  2  is with its one end placed on the ground and supported by the support  6  in its inclined position. The support  6  is in this example attached to the supporting frame  2  preferably near the lower end of the inclined bench  3 . At the lower end of the inclined bench  3  a frame  14  of a seat is connected, onto which the seat  7  is placed. The main function of the seat  7  is to keep the correct position of the user E so that the user E does not slide down the inclined bench  3  during the exercise and at the same time to allow bending of the torso without tilting the torso around the hips. The bench  3  can be provided by a groove  15  for the user&#39;s spine. 
     It is obvious, that the embodiment without the seat  7  is possible, but such an embodiment reduces user&#39;s comfort during exercising. 
     The press arm  4  is pivotally connected to the supporting frame  2 . The press arm  4  is made so that its free end is reachable for the user E lying supine on the inclined bench  3 . In this example the press arm  4  thus extends over the inclined bench  3  and its free end is provided with a means  8  for pushing and/or holding by hands of the user E. These can be a common handle or a hand rest. 
     The press arm  4  is connected to a resistance mechanism  9 . The resistance mechanism  9  is in this case of the type which develops resistance force in one direction only and preferably is isokinetic. For the invention this is in the direction when the press arm  4  is pushed off the inclined bench  3 . The resistance mechanism  9  is in this example connected to the support  6  of the supporting frame  2 . It is obvious that the resistance mechanism  9  can be connected to the press arm  4  also in a different manner. However, in this embodiment, regarding the arrangement of the entire device and the elongated shape of the resistance mechanism  9 , which in this particular embodiment is a hydraulic cylinder, the most suitable connection is the connection of the resistance mechanism  9  to the lower end of the press arm  4 , i.e. near the pivotal mount of the press arm  4  on the supporting frame  2  and to the support  6 . In this way, the body of the resistance mechanism  9  is actually placed entirely under the device and thus it does not form an obstacle during exercise. 
     The drawings show the connection of the body of the resistance mechanism  9  and the support  6  provided through an extended holder  10 , but this is not necessary and the resistance mechanism  9  can be connected directly to the support  6 . 
     In this embodiment, the frame  5  of the raised feet support  11 , upper feet supporting bars  12 , and lower feet holding rolls  13  is attached to the supporting frame  2 . The frame  5  of the raised feet support  11 , upper feet supporting bars  12 , and lower feet holding rolls  13  is not necessary as the exercise, as will be described further, can be performed also without the raised feet support  11 , upper feet supporting bars  12 , and lower feet holding rolls  13 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 , the method of exercise using the exercise device for strengthening of abdominal muscles is the following: The user E is lying supine on the inclined bench  3 . Then he grabs the means  8  for pushing and/or holding or rests his hands against them. User E can leave his legs on the ground or he can put his legs on the raised feet support  11 , or rest his feet against upper feet supporting bars  12 , or he can hook his feet under the feet holding rolls  13 . The user E, beginning from the lying supine position on the inclined bench  3 , starts bending the torso and lifting the torso to a seated position, while with this movement pushing the press arm  4  with his extended straight arms, where the press arm  4  through connected resistance mechanism  9  exerts a resistance force against the movement of the user E. When an isokinetic mechanism is employed, the faster the user E tries to perform the exercise, the greater is the resistance force on the press arm  4  which must be overcome. After the user E ends movement in the seated position, he then starts to lie back. No resistance force acts on the press arm  4  during this backward movement, and only the weight of the torso itself is applied to the abdominal muscles. 
     The lower position of the press arm  4  and the user E, i.e. the position at the beginning or the end of the exercise is drawn in a solid line and the upper position of the press arm  4  and the user E, i.e. the upper position in the exercise, is drawn in a dashed line.