Abstract:
An abdominal exercise device includes a collapsible support frame having first and second legs pivotally associated with one another. Non-rotating handles extend from the support frame. A seat is pivotally attached to the support frame between the handles. A bar of adjustable length extends from the seat to a foot rest. A cross-bar is attached to the support frame for limiting backward rotation of the seat, and thus the bar and foot rest. Abdominal muscles are exercised as the user repeatedly pivots the seat backwards and forward.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application serial No. 10/041,995, filed Jan. 10, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to exercise devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to an abdominal exercise device which can be used at home.  
           [0003]    There exists a wide variety of exercise devices that provide a cardiovascular or resistance exercise to various muscle groups the body. Among these there are known a variety of abdominal exercise devises. In the gym setting, these devices are large, cumbersome, often difficult to operate, and relatively expensive.  
           [0004]    While such devices are generally adequate in the gym setting due to the large space available in such settings, such devices are not amiable to the household setting. For home use, the exercise device must not only be effective, but also compact and/or collapsible in order to easily transport and store the exercise device. The exercise device must also be relatively simple in operation and inexpensive.  
           [0005]    There exist a number of abdominal exercise devices intended for use in the home setting. However, these devices have certain drawbacks in that they are not easily collapsible, or only exercise only a limited number of abdominal muscles. Some of these exercise devices place unnecessary and dangerous strain and stress on the neck and back of the user of the device. To avoid such strain and stress, the user should be preferably seated in an upright position. Many of these devices are not adjustable to meet the individual size of the user.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an abdominal exercise device which is suited for home use. Such an abdominal exercise device should be collapsible in order to be easily transported and stored. Such an exercise devise should also be relatively simple in operation and inexpensive. Preferably, such an exercise device should be adjustable in order to accommodate the size of the user of the device. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention resides in an abdominal exercise device which overcomes the drawbacks and meets the needs described above. The exercise device of the present invention generally comprises a seat pivotally attached to a support frame. A foot rest is associated with the seat so as to pivot with the seat. A stop is associated with the support frame for limiting backward rotation of the seat as the user moves forward and backward in order to exercise various abdominal muscles.  
           [0008]    Typically, the support frame comprises first and second legs angularly offset from one another to form an A-frame configuration in an extended state. The first and second legs are pivotally associated with one another so that the support frame is collapsible. Non-rotating handles extend upwardly from the support frame. The seat is attached to the support frame between the handles. A bar extends from the seat to the foot rest. The bar is preferably adjustable in length in order to accommodate users of different sizes. The stop typically comprises a cross-bar attached to the support frame. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cross-bar is attached to an upper portion to the second leg below the seat.  
           [0009]    In use, the user places his or her buttocks upon the seat. The user&#39;s feet are placed on the foot rest. The handles are grasped for purposes of balancing and the user proceeds to lean backwards and then pull forward, causing the seat, bar and foot rest to rotate with respect to the support frame. During this action, abdominal muscles are exercised.  
           [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exercise device embodying the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a rear end side perspective view of the device of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the exercise device;  
         [0016]    FIGS.  5 - 7  illustrate a user positioned on the device and performing abdominal exercises in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a side elevational and schematic view of the device of the present invention, illustrating the device moved from an extended in-use state to a folded and compact state; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the device in a compact state. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    As shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in an exercise device, generally referred to by the reference number  10 . The device  10  is designed to exercise the abdominal muscles, but a user performing exercises using the present invention may actually exercise other muscles, including the serratus muscles, the intercostal muscles, back muscles, leg muscles, etc. Depending upon the duration and speed with which the exercises are performed, the exerciser may also obtain a cardiovascular workout using the device of the present invention. However, the exercise device is primarily an abdominal exercise device intended to exercise the abdominal muscles.  
         [0020]    With reference now to FIGS.  1 - 4 , the device  10  includes a seat  12  which is pivotal with respect to first and second legs  14  and  16 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, this seat is approximately one-foot in width and approximately one and one-half feet in length, although the invention is not limited to such. The seat  12  is typically comprised of a wood or plastic base, or any other relatively inexpensive yet rigid material, having a cushion positioned thereon and surrounded by a fabric material which is preferably water resistant or waterproof.  
         [0021]    A bar  18  in the form of square tubing extends from the seat  12  forwardly to a foot rest  20 . Typically, the square tube comprises one-inch square type which is affixed by bracket plates  22  or the like to a bottom surface of the seat  12 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, the tubing  18  comprises an outer sheath  24  and an inner tube  26  telescopically received within the sheath  24 . This enables the bar  18  to be extendable in a length to accommodate users of different height. The outer sheath or tube  24  preferably includes apertures  28  spaced from one another in a series and sized to accept a spring-loaded pin or the like. Other adjustment means which are well-known in the art may also be incorporated into the device  10  to adjust and fix the overall length of the bar  18 .  
         [0022]    The footrest  20 , in a particularly preferred embodiment, is comprised of two U-shaped members facing one another so as to create a partial oval member. The user can place his or heels upon the footrest  20 , or insert the foot into the feet into the footrest such that the sole of the foot rests upon the bottom portion of the footrest  20 .  
         [0023]    With particular reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pivot bolt or pin  30  is used to pivotally anchor the first and second legs  14  and  16 , and the seat bar  18 . That is, the bar  18  is either welded or attached to a tube encircling the bolt  30 . The first and second legs  14  and  16  include apertures through which the bolt may extend, bushing which are attached to the bolt, etc., so as to be pivotally attached thereto. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second legs  14  and  16  extend outward from one another so as to be angularly offset, and form a generally A-frame configuration that constitutes a support frame or stable base. As will be described more fully herein, the legs  14  and  16 , and the device  10  in general, is collapsible into a compact state for transportation or storage.  
         [0024]    A crossbar  32  is attached to an upper portion of the generally triangular second leg member  16 . However, the cross-bar  32  is spaced somewhat from the top end of the second leg  16  so as to serve as a stop for the seat  12 . Typically, the crossbar  32  includes upwardly directed extensions  34  which support handles  36 . Preferably, the handles  36  are cushioned to provide comfort for the user. The handles  36  may be detachably received onto the crossbar extensions  34 . The handles  36  and crossbar  32  do not rotate.  
         [0025]    In use, as illustrated in FIGS.  5 - 7 , a user  38  places his or her feet onto the foot rest  20  and his or her buttocks upon the upper surface of the seat  12 . The bar  18  may be adjusted in length so as to suit the height of the user  38 . The user grasps the handles  36  and repetitively pivots the seat backwards and forwards so that the footrest  20  is elevated and declined repeatedly. Repeating these motions exercises various abdominal muscles. Preferably, the user only holds the handles  36  for support in order to more effectively exercise the abdominal muscles. Upon tilting the seat  12  and footrest  20  rearwardly a predetermined amount, the seat  12 , or the bar  18  underlying the seat  12 , contacts the cross-bar  32 , thus limiting the motion of the seat  12 . The user then lowers the footrest  20  towards the ground and repeats these motions. It has been found that the placement of the buttocks upon the seat  12  varies the intensity of the workout. For example, if the buttocks are placed at the lower most edge of the seat  12 , a more intensive workout is achieved than placing the buttocks upon the upper edge of the seat  12 . It will be noted that the user  38  is seated in a generally upright position. It has been found that such a position reduces strain and stress on the lower back and neck of the user.  
         [0026]    With reference now to FIGS. 8 and 9, upon finishing an exercise regimen, the device  10  is collapsible for storage. Due to the fact that the legs  14  and  16  and seat  12  are pivotally attached to the pivot bolt  30 , the user merely needs to retract the footrest  20  towards the seat  12 , and lift the upper end of the device  10  such that the second leg  16  pivots downwardly towards the first leg  14  until the second leg  16 , first leg  14 , and bar  18  are generally in the same plane and adjacent to one another. The seat  12  will automatically rotate into alignment with the handles  36  so that the entire device  10  is generally planar and compact in nature. In its compact state, the device  10  is no more than a few inches tall and approximately two feet in length. This enables the device  10  to be easily stored in a closet or underneath a couch or bed or the like. In its fully extended state, the device is perhaps three feet tall and three to five feet in length. This enables the user to perform exercises in a relatively small area of a room. Due to its simple design, the device  10  is relatively light weight. This enables the user to easily transport and store and use the device  10  in a home setting.  
         [0027]    Although an embodiment has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.