Abstract:
The present invention is a bed sit-up apparatus that allows a user to perform sit-up exercises and other related exercises comfortably on a well-cushioned mat such as a mattress of a bed without the need of an individual restraining the feet of the user throughout the exercise maneuver. The present invention comprises a board, a strap, a sleeve and a tri-glide slide. The strap is attached to the board by traversing therethrough via a first strap slot and a second strap slot. The two ends of the strap are subsequently united and attached to each other via the tri-glide slide. The length and the circumference of the strap are adjustable to fit the width of both feet. The present invention also comprises the method of use of the bed sit-up apparatus. The method not only includes the traditional sit-up maneuver, but also side sit-up and leg maneuvers.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/478,459 filed on Apr. 22, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a sit-up device and a method of use thereof. More specifically, the present invention is a foot securing device that allows a user to perform sit-up exercises comfortably on a well-cushioned mat or a mattress of a bed without the need of an individual restraining the feet of the user. The present invention also allows the user to carry out exercise maneuvers involving not only abdominal muscles but also leg muscles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Traditionally, sit-up exercises are performed by securing the feet of the exerciser to the ground either by a strapping device or by another person. There have been devices which are utilized to secure the feet of the user to the ground during the sit-up maneuver, but these devices have been costly and ineffective. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to introduce an inexpensive adjustable strap to restrain the feet of the user on a well-cushioned mat such as a mattress of a bed, and to allow ease of use and comfort throughout the performance of the sit-up maneuver and other related maneuvers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a magnified back view of the first tri-glide slide in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a magnified front view of the first tri-glide slide in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a magnified front view of the first tri-glide slide and the second tri-glide slide in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a magnified back view of the first tri-glide slide and the second tri-glide slide in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0014]    The present invention is a bed sit-up apparatus used to perform sit-ups on a mattress or a bed. The present invention also comprises a method of exercising by using the present invention. Both of the bed sit-up apparatus and the method are specified hereinafter. 
         [0015]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the present invention comprises a board  1 , a strap  6 , and a sleeve  16 . The strap  6  is attached to the board  1  via a first strap slot  2  and a second strap slot  3 , which are located on and through the board  1 . Both of the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  traverse through the board  1 . The pair of strap slots are located on the board  1  in a manner wherein the first strap slot  2  is located near the top edge of the board  1  and the left side of the board  1 , and the second strap slot  3  is located near the top edge of the board  1  and the right side of the board  1 . Therefore, the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  are located linearly opposite to each other on and through the board  1 . 
         [0016]    In the first preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 , the total length of the strap  6  is 45 inches and the thickness of the strap  6  is 0.2 inches. The first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  are situated on the board  1  in a manner wherein each strap slot is 1 inch from the longitudinal side of the board  1 . The length of the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  is 1.25 inches, and the width of the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  is 0.25 inches. Both of the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  are situated half of an inch from the top edge of the board  1 . The length of the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  is parallel with the longitudinal sides of the board  1 . In the second preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in  FIG. 6  through  FIG. 9 , the length of the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  is parallel with the width of the board  1  namely the top edge of the board  1  and the bottom edge of the board  1 . The first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  are approximately 1 inch in length. The width of both the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  is slightly greater than the thickness of the strap  6 , which is 0.2 inches. The material of the strap  6  in both preferred embodiments is nylon. 
         [0017]    Between the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  is a center handle hole  4 . The center handle hole  4  is positioned centrally on and through the board  1 . In the first preferred embodiment, the length of the center handle hole  4  is 3.5 inches and the width is 0.75 inches. The center handle hole  4  is also positioned 0.5 inches from the top edge of the board  1 . Similar to the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3 , the center handle hole  4  also traverses through the board  1  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The center handle hole  4  allows the user to carry and transport the present invention from one location to another location. Moreover, the center handle hole  4  allows the user to pull the present invention in and out under the mattress with ease during use. Specifically, the center handle hole  4  also allows the user to find a more stable exercise position depending on the distance between the top edge of the board  1  and the edge of the mattress. In an ideal exercise position, the weight of the user is pressing directly down the board  1 , which is located underneath the mattress, directly below the hind end of the user. The weight of the user keeps the board  1  in position and from slipping out from under the mattress. In the second preferred embodiment, the center handle hole  4  is not present. 
         [0018]    Attached to the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  is the strap  6 . The strap  6  is attached to the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  by traversing through the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3 . The strap  6  comprises a first strap end  7  and a second strap end  8 . The length and the circumference of the strap  6  are adjustable in both preferred embodiments. In the first preferred embodiment, the first strap end  7  traverses through the first strap slot  2  and the second strap slot  3  until the first strap end  7  is united with the second strap end  8  to form a closed loop as shown in  FIG. 1 . Consequently, the first strap end  7  and the second strap end  8  are attached to each other via a first tri-glide slide  9 . The first tri-glide slide  9  is connected to the second strap end  8  in a manner wherein the second strap end  8  is traversing through a first space  12  of the first tri-glide slide  9 , sheathing a middle bar  10  of the first tri-glide slide  9 , and connected back to the second strap end  8  by a plurality of stitches  15  as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . The plurality of stitches  15  are permanently sewn to the second strap end  8 . The first space  12  is located between a first bar  11  of the first tri-glide slide  9  and the middle bar  10  of the first tri-glide slide  9 . Moreover, there is a second space  14  between a second bar  13  of the first tri-glide slide  9  and the middle bar  10  of the first tri-glide slide  9 . Therefore, there is space on each side of the middle bar  10 , which is wrapped and sheathed by the second strap end  8 . The first space  12  and the second space  14  on both sides of the middle bar  10  of the first tri-glide slide  9  allow the first strap end  7  to traverse through the first space  12 , wrap around the middle bar  10 , and traverse back through the second space  14 . Consequently, the first strap end  7  is secured to the second strap end  8  via the first tri-glide slide  9  and the mechanism thereof. 
         [0019]    In the second preferred embodiment, the strap  6  is attached to the board  1  differently than previously specified. Similar to the strap  6  in the first preferred embodiment, the strap  6  also comprises the first strap end  7  and the second strap end  8 . Unlike the strap  6  in the first embodiment, the strap  6  in the second embodiment comprises an additional tri-glide slide, a second tri-glide slide  17 . The second tri-glide slide  17  is shown in  FIG. 6 . Therefore, the strap  6  comprises a pair of tri-glide slides with each tri-glide slide attached to each end of the strap  6 . The first strap end  7  with the first tri-glide slide  9  attached, traverses through the first strap slot  2  whereas the second strap end  8  with the second tri-glide slide  17  attached, traverses through the second strap slot  3 . At the first strap slot  2 , the first strap end  7  traverses through the first strap slot  2  and is attached back to the first strap end  7  by convolving through the first space  12  and the second space  14  of the first tri-glide slide  9 . Similarly, at the second strap slot  3 , the second strap end  8  traverses through the second strap slot  3  and is attached back to the second strap end  8  by convolving through the first space  12  and the second space  14  of the second tri-glide slide  17 . The aforementioned convoluted attachments are illustrated in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . 
         [0020]    Before the first strap end  7  is attached to the second strap end  8  in the first preferred embodiment, the strap  6  is partially insulated by the sleeve  16 , which serves as a cushion for the user. The sleeve  16  prevents the strap  6  from abrading the feet of the user during use. Furthermore, the sleeve  16  is composed of a flexible and comfortable material for user comfort. The sleeve  16  is a hollow cylinder with a thickness as shown in  FIG. 3 . The hollow space within the sleeve  16  allows the strap  6  to traverse through the hollow body of the sleeve  16 . Therefore, the strap  6  is concentrically sheathed by the sleeve  16 . The sleeve  16  may come in various lengths, depending on the total width of the feet of the user. In the first preferred embodiment, the sleeve  16  is 6 inches long. The material of the sleeve  16  is rubber. The sleeve  16  is not present in the second preferred embodiment. 
         [0021]    The board  1  of the present invention comprises a plurality of curved edges  5  perimetrically positioned on the board  1 . The plurality of curved edges  5  are shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 . The plurality of curved edges  5  replaces the traditional sharp edges of a board  1  to prevent the board  1  from chafing the mattress. In the first preferred embodiment, the plurality of curved edges  5  is bounded to the edges of the board  1  in a manner wherein the top portion of the board  1  curves downward and the bottom portion of the board  1  curves upward to meet the top portion of the board  1  midway. The top portion of the board  1  and the bottom portion of the board  1  form a convex edge of the board  1  midway therein. Therefore, the plurality of curved edges  5  comprises a plurality of convex edges. In the first preferred embodiment, the length of the board  1  is 15 inches and the width of the board  1  is 9.5 inches. In the second preferred embodiment, the length of the board  1  is 12 inches, the width of the board  1  is 8 inches, and the thickness of the board  1  is 0.25 inches to 0.5 inches. In both preferred embodiments, the material of the board  1  is acrylic plastic. The acrylic plastic material has been proven to be substantially durable and non-abrasive in contact with the materials of the mattress or the bed. The total weight of the bed sit-up apparatus is less than 2 pounds. 
         [0022]    The method of utilizing the present invention to perform sit-ups on a mattress or a well-cushioned mat is initiated by positioning the board  1  under a mattress with the strap  6  exposed and accessible by the user. The board  1  of the bed sit-up apparatus may be placed under any location of a bed. On a bed, the board  1  may be positioned between a mattress and a box spring. The strap  6  is set 1.5 inches to 2 inches above the mattress. With the board  1  positioned under the mattress, the user positions his or her weight upon the area of the mattress directly above the board  1 . Consequently, the board  1  is secured in place by the weight of the user. Subsequently, the user positions his or her feet under the strap  6 . He or she may adjust the circumference or the length of the strap  6  until the strap  6  is tightly bound around the feet. In the first preferred embodiment, the circumference of the strap  6  may be adjusted by sliding the first tri-glide slide  9  along the length of the strap  6 . In the second preferred embodiment, the length of the strap  6  may be altered by adjusting both of the first tri-glide slide  9  and the second tri-glide slide  17 . With the circumference or the length of the strap  6  reduced, the feet of the user are secured to the strap  6 . Then, the user lowers his or her upper body and the back toward the ground, without touching the ground. When the user nearly touches the ground, he or she utilizes his or her frontal abdominal muscles to elevate the upper body and the back toward the feet. The present invention may not only be used to perform traditional sit-ups, but the present invention may be used to perform other exercise maneuvers such as side sit-ups and one-sided leg lifts to exercise the oblique muscles and the leg muscles in addition to the frontal abdominal muscles. 
         [0023]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.