Abdominal exercise and training apparatus

Abstract

An abdominal training apparatus designed to be used by a seated exerciser for concentrated training of the abdominal muscles, comprising an upper portion and a lower portion pivotably suspended from a base, the upper portion and lower portion being linked together causing them to rotate in opposite directions from, in a fixed angular proportion to, one another. The apparatus includes weight addition means on the upper and lower portions to respectively increase and decrease the force required to perform the crunch exercise, so as to accommodate both advanced and beginning exercisers as well as those with injured or weak abdominal muscles. The apparatus further includes a pivotably mounted seat portion enabling the apparatus to be used by an exerciser to target both the oblique and the frontal abdominal muscles.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to apparatus for exercising and strengthening the abdominal muscles. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus that enables a wide range of exercisers to perform isolated training of both the frontal and oblique abdominal muscles without straining the lower back. [0002] There are many exercise devices intended to train specific parts of the body. Training of the abdominal muscles can be particularly challenging because of the desire to concentrate the work to the abdominal muscles and at the same time minimize the stress and risk of injury to the lower back. Traditional sit-ups on a flat surface or on an inclined bench are far from optimal for strengthening the abdominal muscles. Beginning the exercise in a flat position puts stress on the spine and the neck and may be very difficult for a person with weak abdominal muscles. Additionally, the traditional sit-up motion engages the hip fl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention provides an abdominal exercise apparatus to be used by an exerciser in a seated position. The apparatus of the present invention is symmetrical left to right and comprises a base from which an upper and a lower portion are pivotably suspended. The upper and lower portions are linked together, causing them to rotate in opposed directions with respect to the base. As an exerciser pulls down on handles extending from the top of the upper portion, drawing the upper portion piv

Problems solved by technology

Training of the abdominal muscles can be particularly challenging because of the desire to concentrate the work to the abdominal muscles and at the same time minimize the stress and risk of injury to the lower back.

Traditional sit-ups on a flat surface or on an inclined bench are far from optimal for strengthening the abdominal muscles.

Beginning the exercise in a flat position puts stress on the spine and the neck and may be very difficult for a person with weak abdominal muscles.

However, because the movement in performing a crunch is from a position with the back flat on the floor to a crunch position where just the head and shoulders are raised from the floor, the range of motion to which the abdominals are subjected is limited.

Although this apparatus provides the capability to both aid an exerciser with weak abdominal muscles in doing a sit-up and increase the resistance for a more advanced exerciser, it suffers from the basic configuration deficiency of starting the exercise in a flat prone position.

Therefore, this device does not minimize lower back stress nor does it

Images