Patent ID: 7074165

Claim:
An exercise device for exercising the abdominal muscles, the back muscles, and the arm muscles of a user while doing sit-up exercises, comprising: a substantially rectangular tubular frame having two spaced longitudinal bars, each having an upper portion and a lower portion, and two spaced lateral bars, one extending between the upper portions of the longitudinal bars, and one extending between the lower portions of the longitudinal bars, the frame further having a seat pad extending between the lower portions of the longitudinal bars for selectively supporting the buttocks of the user; an angled pull bar assembly pivotally affixed to the frame at two hinges by two hinge pins, said pull bar assembly having a neck/head support pad extending between two spaced neck support rods, said neck support rods each having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion of each of the neck support rods extends into a different diagonal rod, each of which in turn extends into a different vertical rod having a top, and wherein a crossbar extends between the tops of the two vertical rods; and a removable bottom section having two spaced extension rods, each having a lower portion and an upper portion which attaches to a different one of the lower portions of the longitudinal bars, wherein a lateral bar extends between the lower portions of the extension rods, wherein a toe grip bar also extends between the lower portions of the extension rods, wherein said toe grip bar and lateral bar together define a lateral toe slot for selective insertion therein of the toes of the user to help immobilize the legs of the user while using the device, wherein the upper portion of each of the extension rods may be selectively detached from the lower portions of the longitudinal bars in order to minimize storage space requirements; and wherein when the user grasps the crossbar within the hands of the user and utilizes the muscles of the arm and back to pivot the crossbar downward upon the hinge pins, the attached neck support rods swivel upward, thereby helping the user raise his/her back and torso above the horizontal support structure while doing sit-up type exercises, while still substantially strengthening the arm, back, and abdominal muscles of the user.