Abstract:
An exercise device includes a base frame having a first baseboard member, a second baseboard member, and a base pad disposed in between. The first baseboard member includes a first locking member disposed on a first headend of the first baseboard member, and the second baseboard member includes a second locking member disposed on a second headend of the second baseboard member. The exercise device further includes a pole frame having a top crossbar, a bottom crossbar, a first side pole, and a second side pole. The first lock member of the first baseboard member is inserted into a cross section of the first side pole and the second lock member of the second baseboard member is inserted into a cross section of the second side pole, such that the pole frame is interlocked with the base frame substantially perpendicularly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to physical training machines, and in particular, to exercise machines commonly referred to a portable Abs exercise device that can be used on the floor or a raised platform. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Whereas people today are more conscious of fitness thanks to the ever-improved living standard, fitness equipment has become very popular. However, some of the fitness equipment emphasizing sit up in bear hands may get too rough and violent resulting in stretch in larger angles that causes injuries to the user having overweighed problem or in middle ages or elder. Furthermore, the sit up may become so monotonous and the user may be disinterested very quickly. Besides, fitness equipment generally available in the market either consumes too much space at home or is very expensive, plus other factors, such as the users in a family whose age, physical strength vary, the confined space available at home, the limit to only one function, and nature and length of training session. 
         [0003]    Abs exercise apparatuses commonly feature a standing frame, which requires a significant amount of storage space. Even when folded, the exercise apparatus with a changed length may still be bulky in size, occupying too much space for storage or during delivery. Thus, the conventional Abs exercise apparatuses require further improvements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exercise device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of an exercise device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a rear view of an exercise device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4-5  show side views of an exercise device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of an exercise device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of an exercise device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 8A-8C  show a perspective view of an exercise device according to some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  shows an explosive view of an exercise device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 10A-10C  show usage of an exercise device according to some embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Various embodiments and aspects of the inventions will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present inventions. 
         [0015]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0016]    According to some embodiments, a portable Abs exercise device includes a base frame, a moveable frame and an elongate member coupling the base frame and the moveable frame, such that the moveable frame can swing vertically, while swinging horizontally with respect to the base frame. The base frame can be placed on a floor together with the moveable frame in a flat configuration, when the elongate member is positioned in a substantially horizontally. In the flat configuration, the moveable frame can swing left and right with respect to the base frame, while the moveable frame and the base frame are supported by a relatively flat surface. Alternatively, the base frame can be placed on a raised platform, such as, a bench, a table, a couch, etc. to allow a user to site on a base pad of the base frame, while place at least one of the user&#39;s feet downwardly on the moveable frame that is positioned at a level lower than the base frame. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the base frame further includes a pair of handles to allow the user to hold or grab onto the handles while twist the legs of the user on the moveable frame to wing left and right horizontally. Alternatively, the user can knee on the base pad, while holding onto a lateral bar of the moveable frame to wing the moveable frame left and right horizontally. The base frame may further include a first pair of hooks while the moveable frame may include a second pair of hooks to connect a pair of elastic cord members or bands to provide additional resistance when the moveable frame swings vertically and/or horizontally with respect to the base frame. The moveable frame further includes one or more wheels loosely mounted at a bottom of the moveable frame to provide support and a smooth transaction when the moveable frame is placed on a relatively flat surface and swings left and right horizontally. The direction of the wheels can be automatically changed in response to a movement or swing direction of the moveable frame with respect to the base frame. 
         [0018]    In a particular embodiment, an exercise device includes a base frame having a base plate, a base pad mounted on the base plate, a first handle mounted on a first side of the base plate, and a second handle mounted on a second side of the base plate. The base frame further includes a first mounting bracket mounted on a mounting plate extended from the base plate via a first hinge to allow the first mounting bracket to swing horizontally with respect to the mounting plate. The exercise device further includes a movable frame having a second mounting bracket mounted disposed thereon, and an elongate member coupling the base frame and the moveable frame. The elongate member includes a first end rotatably coupled to the first mounting bracket of the base frame via a second hinge to allow the elongate member to swing vertically with respect to the base plate. The elongate member further includes a second end fixedly coupled to the second mounting bracket of the moveable frame to allow the moveable frame to swing horizontally with respect to the base frame via the first hinge, while swinging vertically with respect to the base frame via the second hinge. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exercise device according to one embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , exercise device  100  includes base frame  101 , moveable frame  103  coupled to each over via an elongate member  102 . Elongate member  102  includes a first end (also referred to as a near end) coupled to or mounted on a first mounting bracket  108  of baes frame  101  via a first hinge  110  (e.g., a horizontal hinge) so that elongate member  102  can swing or tilt vertically (e.g., upwardly and downwardly) with respect to base frame  101 . Elongate member  102  further includes a second end (also referred to as a far end) coupled to (e.g., fixedly) mounted to a second mounting bracket  121  of moveable frame  103 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, base frame  101  includes a base pad  106  mounted on a base plate  107 , a first handle  104  mounted on a first side of base plate  107 , and a second handle  105  mounted on a second side of base plate  107 . The hands of a user can hold onto handles  104 - 105  while sitting on base pad  106  for providing additional strength and safety measures. 
         [0021]    Base plate  107  further includes a mounting plate  109  extended outwardly to allowing mounting bracket  108  to rotatably mounted on mounting plate  109  via a second hinge  120 . In this embodiment, first hinge  110  allows elongate member  102  to swing vertically with respect to base plate  107 , while second hinge  120  allows elongate member  102  together with mounting bracket  108  to swing horizontally with respect to base plate  107 , as shown in side views of  FIGS. 4-5  and a bottom view of  FIG. 7 . Hinge  110  allows elongate member  102  and base frame  101 , as well as moveable frame  103  to be a substantially flat configuration, such as the configuration as shown in  FIG. 8A . In one embodiment, moveable frame  103  can also be laid flat with respect to elongate member  102  via a hinge. In such a configuration, exercise device  100  can take less space for storage, such as, for example, underneath a couch or bed, etc. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, moveable frame  103  includes a lateral bar  112  and a U-shape support bar  111  coupled to each other. The ends of U-shape bar  111  may be counted on lateral bar  112  using a pair of screws, which forms a first end section  113 , a second end section  114 , and a center section  115 . Center section  115  may be covered or enclosed by a soft material such as foam. The length of center section  115  is long enough such that both feet of a user can insert into an opening between U-shape bar  111  and center section  115 , while the user sits on base pad  106  of base frame  101 . Alternatively, any of the feet of the user can rest or hook onto any one of end sections  113 - 114  while sitting on base pad  106 . Examples of usage of exercise device  100  are shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B . By sitting on base pad  106 , a user can exercise its Abs by moving its feet placed on moveable frame  103  up and down and/or left and right. Alternatively, according to an alternative embodiment, a user can knee on base pad while its handles can grab on any of end sections  113 - 114  and center section  115 , as shown in  FIG. 10C . 
         [0023]    Note that base frame  101  can be placed on a flat structure or surface (as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C and 10C ) and alternatively, base frame  101  can be placed on a raised platform such as a bench, a couch, or a table (as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B ). When base frame  101  is paced on a raised platform as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B , a user can sit on base pad  106 , while placing any of its feet on moveable frame  103  outwardly and downwardly. In such a configuration, a moveable frame  103  is positioned at a level lower than base frame  101 .  FIG. 2  shows a front view of exercise device  100  and  FIG. 3  shows a rear view of exercise device  100 .  FIGS. 4-5  show side views of exercise device  100 .  FIG. 6  shows a top view of exercise device  100  and  FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of exercise device  100 .  FIG. 9  is an explosive view of exercise device  100 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4-6 , in one embodiment, handle  104  includes hook  125  disposed thereon and handle  105  includes hook  126  disposed thereon. Similarly, moveable frame  103  include hooks  127 - 128  disposed thereon, in this example, on U-shape bar  111 . Hooks  125  and  127  can be used to connect a first elastic cord member or elastic band (not shown) and hooks  126  and  128  can be used to connect a second elastic cord member or elastic band (not shown) to provide additional resistance when moveable frame  103  swings vertically and/or horizontally with respect to base frame  101 .  FIG. 8A  shows an alternative configuration, in which handles  104 - 105  can be detached from the base frame and hooks are mounted on the base plate and the end sections of the lateral bar. 
         [0025]    According to one embodiment, exercise device  100  includes a first wheel  118  mounted on a first wheel mounting bracket  116  and a second wheel  119  mounted on a second wheel mounting bracket  117 . Each of wheel mounting brackets  116 - 117  may be formed in a U-shape to mount the corresponding wheel therein. Wheels  118 - 119  are configured to provide support and a smooth transaction on a support surface (e.g., floor), when moveable frame  103  swings horizontally with respect to base frame  101 , as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C and 10C . In one embodiment, each of wheel mounting brackets  116 - 117  is loosely mounted on U-shape bar  111  via a screw, such that a moving direction of wheels  118 - 119  can adaptively change in response to swinging of moveable frame  103 . Note that although there are wheels  118 - 119  are shown, more or fewer wheels may be implemented. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8B-8C , according to one embodiment, elongate member  102  includes a first elongate section  131  and a second elongate section  132 . Elongate section  131  includes a first end (or near end) coupled to mounting bracket  108  of base frame  101  and a second end (or far end) coupled to a first end of elongate section  132 . Second end of elongate section  132  is mounted on mounting bracket  121  of moveable frame  103 . In one embodiment, elongate section  131  is a tubular section that allows elongate section  132  to extend from and retract into the cross section or tube of elongate section  131  to reach a desirable length of elongate member  102 , for example, dependent upon how tall the user is. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, each of elongate sections  131 - 132  includes an array of locking holes (e.g., locking hole  136 ) disposed thereon. The locking holes can be aligned to interlock elongate sections  131 - 132  using a locking pin  135  inserted into a pair of aligned locking holes. Each of locking holes of elongate section  131  can be aligned with any of locking holes of elongate section  132  to adjust the length of overall elongate member  102 . 
         [0028]    In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.