Patent Publication Number: US-6669611-B2

Title: Abdominal exerciser device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part (C.I.P.) of patent application Ser. No. 09/502,236, filed on Feb. 11, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,331. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to exercisers, and more particularly to a transportable abdominal exerciser. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Massaging device has been disclosed in the prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 1,936,022 issued on Nov. 21, 1933 to J. V. Hunt. The device comprises a ball held in a semi-spherical frame equipped with a handle that can be manually grasped for applying pressure with the ball, for example on a person&#39;s abdominal area. A motor mounted inside a casing attached to the frame allows for vibration of the ball on the abdominal area, where an alleged fat reduction in this area. However, this apparatus is disadvantageous in that it does not fully exercise the abdominal muscles, and one is required to manually hold the device while applying pressure on his abdominal area for the device to have an effect: this can become uncomfortable and tedious, with little or no effective results in abdominal muscles strengthening. 
     Reducing apparatus has been disclosed in the prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 2,466,470 issued on Apr. 5, 1949 to G. G. Norris. The apparatus comprises a resilient sphere, which can be rolled on a flat surface or on a concaved transverse member disposed along a wall. Areas of the body such as hips and waist may be reduced of excessive fatness through the action of the body part while in contact with the sphere. However, the sphere of this apparatus does not have a free-rolling action and the apparatus is not stand-alone in that for the sphere to have an effect a minimum of two points of contact must be given to the sphere to keep it balanced; this requires the user to constantly change position, which can become discomforting and troublesome. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an abdominal exerciser that obviates the above noted disadvantages. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal exerciser that allows for a simple way to exercise a person&#39;s abdominal muscles. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal exerciser for reducing purposes, on which a body part such as the abdomen, waist and/or hips can be applied for pressuring, massaging, rolling and pounding actions. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal exerciser to which a person can adapt various level of pressure. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a stand alone abdominal exerciser liberating arms and legs which can be mounted at various angles on a more sophisticated structure alone or together with other similar exercisers to ease and facilitate the use by the user. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal exerciser that is easy to build, manufacture and maintain, and adaptable to various comfort level by using adaptable balls and with or without an absorbing material installed below the exerciser. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal exerciser that is self-contained for good protection and easy transportation. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and a careful consideration of the following description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention consists of an abdominal exerciser device that comprises a self-standing casing member freely movably supporting an exercising member having an exposed surface protruding upward from the casing for contacting a user&#39;s body part, a hollowed cover connecting to the casing member and protecting the exposed surface from outside environment when the device is unused, and a handgrip for hand-carrying the device. 
     Preferably, the device includes a carrier having an adjustment member mounted thereon to adjust position of the casing member relative to the carrier. 
     Preferably, the adjustment member is an absorber supporting the casing member, thereby providing shock absorption and resiliency within the exerciser device. 
     Preferably, the casing member pivotally connects to the carrier, thus allowing for angular adjustment of the casing member relative to the carrier. 
     Preferably, the cover includes a locking member to lock the same to the casing member, thus preventing the exercising member from being exposed during transportation of the device. 
     Preferably, the carrier includes at least one caster rollably supporting the device. 
     Preferably, the handgrip is telescopic to extend away from the caster. 
     Preferably, the exercising member is a ball, the casing member has at least one substantially upwardly oriented cavity with at least three bearing members secured therein, the ball removably and partially engaging the cavity and freely rollably engaging bearing members, the exposed surface of the ball protruding out from the casing member. 
     Preferably, at least three bearing members are all coplanar and engaging the ball at their respective apex point and apex points forming a plane substantially intersecting the ball at a substantially mid-depth of the cavity. 
     Preferably, the casing member includes a top flange secured thereto and having a circular opening of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the ball, the opening is substantially centered with respect to bearing members, the exposed surface of the ball protruding out from the casing member through the circular opening. 
     Alternatively, the casing member includes a top flange secured thereto and having a circular opening of a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball, the opening is substantially centered with respect to bearing members, the exposed surface of the ball protruding out from the casing member through the circular opening. 
     Preferably, the casing member includes an additional substantially upwardly oriented cavities with at least three additional bearing members for each of the additional cavities and respectively secured therein, and one additional ball partially removably engaging each one of the additional cavities and freely rollably engaging its respective additional bearing members, cavities being in close proximity to each other. 
     Alternatively, the exercising member is a roller, the casing member has at least two bearing members secured thereto, the roller freely rollably engaging bearing members, the exposed surface of the roller radially protruding out from the casing member. 
     Preferably, the exposed surface has an axially curved shape. 
     Preferably, the casing member has additional bearing members secured thereto, said device includes an additional roller freely rollably engaging said additional bearing members and having an exposed surface radially protruding out from the casing member. 
     Preferably, the exercising member is made out of a resilient material. 
     Preferably, the carrier has a pad connected to a bottom surface thereof to prevent displacement of the carrier relative to an underlying surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout. 
     FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an abdominal exerciser according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a tilted configuration; 
     FIG. 2 a  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an abdominal exerciser according to the present invention including an absorber material; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 a  of a third embodiment of an abdominal exerciser according to the present invention including a spring-type absorber; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded broken top perspective view of the casing of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an abdominal exerciser according to the present invention, showing a casing supporting two balls and having a removable top flange; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an abdominal exerciser according to the present invention, showing a roller as the exerciser member; 
     FIG. 5 a  is a section view taken along line  5   a — 5   a  of FIG. 5; 
     FIGS. 5 b ,  5   c  and  5   d  are views similar to FIG. 5 a , showing different embodiments of the roller; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5, showing a fifth embodiment of an abdominal exerciser according to the present invention with two parallel rollers. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purposes and by no means as of limitation. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment  10  of an abdominal exerciser device in accordance with the present invention that includes a self-standing casing member  20  freely movably supporting an exercising member  30 , preferably a ball, which has an exposed surface  31  protruding upward from the casing  20  for contacting a user&#39;s body part (not shown). The device  10  includes a hollowed removable cover  40  connected to the casing  20  to protect the exposed surface  31  from the outside environment when the device  10  is unused, and a handgrip  29  for hand-carrying the same  10 . The cover  40  has a handle  41  for the user to easily install and uninstall the same from the casing  20  or, in the case the cover  40  is secured and latched to the casing  20 , to carry the abdominal exerciser device  10 . 
     As better illustrated in FIGS. 2,  2   a  and  2   b , the self-standing casing  20  includes a carrier  50  with an adjustment member  51  mounted thereon to adjust the position of the casing  20  relative to the carrier  50  (indicated by arrow B in FIGS. 2 and 2 a ). In FIG. 2, the adjustment member  51  is a T-shaped support  52  pivotally mounted on the carrier  50  at one end and removably engaging different complementary recesses  22  of the casing  20  at the free other end. In FIG. 2 a , the adjustment member  51   a  of the second embodiment  10   a  is a wedge shape absorber  52   a  displaceable in the direction indicated by arrow D to provide shock absorption and resiliency within the exerciser device  10  in the direction indicated by arrow B. The embodiment  10   b  of FIG. 2 b  illustrates another adjustment member  51   b  being at least one, preferably four, spring absorbers  52   b.    
     The casing  20  preferably pivotally connects, via hinge  23 , to the carrier  50  to allow for angular adjustment of the casing  20  relative to the carrier  50  (indicated by arrow B and dotted lines in FIG. 2 a ). 
     The cover  40  includes a locking member  43  to lock and secure the same to the casing  20  in order to prevent the exercising member  30  from being exposed to the outside environment during transportation of the device  10 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , the carrier  50   a  includes at least one caster  53 , preferably two, to rollably support the device  10 . Also the carrier  50   a  includes a different handgrip  29   a  that is preferably telescopic to extend away (arrow C) from the casters  53  for the user to rollably displace the device  10  in the same manner as if it would be a conventional carry-on baggage with wheels. 
     As is shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 , the casing  20  has a substantially upwardly oriented cavity  28  with at least three bearing members  26  secured therein, the ball  30  removably and partially engages the cavity  28  and freely rollably engages the bearing members  26 . 
     At least three, preferably eight, bearing members  26  (see FIG. 3) are coplanar, and engage the ball  30  at the apex points that form a plane substantially intersecting the ball  30  at substantially mid-depth of the cavity  28 . 
     The casing  20  includes a top flange  34  secured thereto that has a circular opening  35  of a diameter preferably slightly larger than the diameter of the ball  30 , the opening  35  is substantially centered with respect to bearing members  26 . The exposed surface  31  of the ball  30  protrudes out from the casing  20  through the circular opening  35 . 
     Alternatively, as illustrated in the fourth embodiment  10   c  of FIG. 4, the circular opening  35   c  can have a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball  30   c  to retain the ball  30   c  into the cavity  28  of the casing  20   c . In this case, the top flange  34   c  is movably connected to the casing  20   c , via hinge  34   c ′, to allow for the balls  30   c  to be removed from the casing  20   c  to be cleaned or replaced whenever required. 
     Furthermore, the casing  20   c  includes an additional substantially upwardly oriented cavity  28  with at least three additional bearing members  26  (preferably similar to the ones-is illustrated in FIG. 3) for the additional cavity  28  and respectively secured therein, and an additional ball  30   c  partially removably engaging the same. The two cavities  28  are in close proximity to each other. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 5 a , the exercising member  30   d  of the fourth embodiment  10   d  is a roller. The casing  20   d  has at least two bearing members  26   d  secured thereto. The roller  30   d  freely rollably engages the bearing members  26   d  and has an exposed surface  31   d  radially protruding out from the casing  20   d.    
     The exposed surface  31   d  can have an axially curved shape  31   f ,  31   f ′ or  31   g  (see FIGS. 5 b ,  5   c  or  5   d  respectively) in which the radius varies along the axis of the roller  30   f ,  30   f ′ or  30   g . The exposed surface  31   f  can be covered with a resilient material  37  or coating as is illustrated in FIG. 5 b , or have small dents  31   f ′ as is illustrated in FIG. 5 c  to make it non-smooth for different massage sensations. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the casing  20   d  is slidably adjustable relative to the carrier  50  via adjusting elements  27 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the casing  20   e  includes additional bearing members  26   d  adjustably secured thereto and an additional roller  31   d , preferably parallel to the other, freely rollably engaging the additional bearings  26   d . The exposed surface  31   d  of the additional roller  30   d  radially protrudes out from the casing  20   e.    
     Preferably, the exercising member  30  is made out of a resilient material. 
     The carrier  50  preferably has an anti-squid pad  55 , coating or mounting feet, (see FIG. 2) connected to a bottom thereof to prevent displacement of the carrier  50  relative to an underlying floor surface. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the abdominal exerciser  10  has the self-standing base portion or casing  20  that includes a lower plate  24  and sidewalls  25  secured substantially perpendicularly to the lower plate  24 . 
     The lower plate  24  and sidewalls  25  form a substantially upwardly oriented cup shaped cavity  28  adapted to be removably engaged by a ball  30 , preferably made out of resilient rubber. The cavity  28  has a generally circular opening  35  with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the ball  30  for engagement therein of the latter. Preferably, the opening  35  is part of a flange  34  secured on its outer edge to the contour of the sidewalls  25 . 
     The combined height of the sidewalls  25  and the flange  34  is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the radii of the resilient rubber ball  30 . The sidewalls  25  is a multi-sided wall including a generally vertical upper section  36  covering approximately half of the depth of the cavity  28  and terminated at the top by the flange  34 , and a substantially internally conical lower section  38  between the upper section  36  and the plate  24  and covering the other half. Preferably, eight bearing members  26  (not shown), each including a support  42  and its bearing  44 , are mounted onto the lower section  38  of sidewalls  25 . The bearings  26  are peripherally equally spaced and all on a same plane. 
     Once engaged into the cavity  28 , the resilient rubber ball  30  is rollably supported solely by the bearings  26  and therefore permitted to freely rollover itself. Each bearing  26  engages the ball  30  at its own apex point; all apex points forming a plane intersecting the ball  30  between 30% an 70% of the radii, preferably at mid radii. The intersecting plane is essentially parallel to the opening  35 . 
     The resilient rubber ball  30  is preferably released from the casing  20  since the circumference of the opening  35  of the top flange  34  is always slightly larger than the circumference of the ball  30  and since the vertical height (or depth) of the combination of the top flange  34  and the cavity  28  is only slightly higher than half the diameter of the ball  30 . The ball  30  may be alternatively made out of a relatively soft material or a hard material, but in any event, it must be prevented from excessive deformation upon being loaded with a user&#39;s weight as described hereinafter, since it must still be allowed to rollover itself when rollably engaging the bearings  26 . 
     In preference, the ball  30  has a diameter of between five (5) inches to ten (10) inches, preferably eight (8) inches, and weighs between one (1) kg and eight (8) kg, such as conventional medicine balls. 
     The angle of the lower section  38  of the sidewalls  25  is preferably of forty-five (45) degrees, but could vary. The depth at which, for example, the eight bearings  26  are positioned inside the cavity  28  will depend of the angle position of that lower section  28 , but should allow for a contact at between 30% and 70% of the radii of the ball  30 . 
     If the abdominal exerciser  10  is positioned at an angle of up to approximately forty-five (45) degrees from horizontal, the ball  30  should still only rest on the bearings  26 , depending at which exact depth the latter are positioned, not affecting its use. If the angle of the abdominal exerciser  10  is increased to approximately between forty-five (45) degrees and ninety (90) degrees, the ball  30 , depending at which exact depth the bearings  26  will be positioned, will also have contact with the inner edge of opening  35 , thus preventing the ball  30  from rolling over itself while supported by the bearings  26 . 
     It may however still be possible to use the abdominal exerciser  10  under these circumstances when instead of being in contact with the inner edge of the opening  35  the ball  30  is in contact with a region of the user&#39;s body and enough pressure is applied onto the ball  30 . If the abdominal exerciser  10  is positioned at angles between ninety (90) degrees and one hundred and eighty (180) degrees and no pressure is applied onto the ball  30 , the latter will fall under gravity. Ultimately, it may however still be possible, but not practical, to use the abdominal exerciser  10  using the same principle as explained above when the angle varies between forty-five (45) degrees and ninety (90) degrees. 
     For better ball  30  support within the cavity  28 , a bottom bearing member  46  may be secured at a proper level at the closed end of the cavity  28 , on the lower plate  24 . 
     Alternatively, the top flange  34  is releasably secured to the casing  20  and its opening  35  has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the ball  30  in order to retain the latter  30  inside the casing  20  when the device  10  is tilted by ninety (90) degrees or even turned up-side-down. Obviously, the depth of the cavity  28  is less than the radii of the ball  30  while the depth of the combination of the cavity with the flange  34  is more than the radii of the ball  30 . 
     The abdominal exerciser  10  of FIGS. 1 to  6  respectively are transportable and are typically used while simply laying down on the floor with the user&#39;s abdominal muscles laid down and applying pressure on the ball  30  or on the roller  30   d  that is upwardly oriented. The user then puts more or less pressure, using his/her own weight, on different part of his abdominal muscles by moving his body using the balance provided by his legs and arms. 
     The feet and hands of the user are primarily used as balancing devices rather than the possible support devices since they are in direct contact with the floor. By tilting his body on one side or the other on the ball  30  or on the roller  30   d  the latter is free to move since it sits on bearings  26 ,  26   d . This tilting motion of the body will effectively allow different muscles of the user&#39;s abdominal region to be exercised. Different resilient rubber balls  30  or rollers  30   d  may be used according to the desired level of abdominal training the user wishes, small and hard balls  30  or rollers  30   d  requiring more effort than large and soft balls  30  or roller  30   d.    
     It is also of importance when practicing such an exercise that when a person tilts his body laterally on the ball  30  or roller  30   d , the casing  20  or  20   d  does not hinder this tilting motion. 
     All the above described exerciser  10  are specifically used to reinforce, train or make firmer the different muscles of the waist, hip and abdominal body parts of the user. 
     The self-standing casing  20  and the cover  40  may have pictorial ornamentation and be made out of transparent type of material. 
     The adjustment member  51  may be motorized (different types of vibrators, dampers or the like) that can generate variable resistance levels (not shown). 
     All embodiments of the exercising member  30  may be inflatable to provide different resiliency levels to the abdominal exerciser users. 
     It is to be noted that the cover  40  is not shown in FIGS. 2 to  6  for clarity purposes. 
     Although the present abdominal exerciser device has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been may of example only and that present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.