Abdominal muscle exercise equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides abdominal muscle exercise equipment with which it is possible to effectively train abdominal muscles.　Abdominal muscle exercise equipment 10 includes: a body part 20 on which the buttocks of a user in a supine position are placed; and grip parts 50 gripped by the user in the supine position. The grip parts 50 are connected to the body part 20 and can be gripped by the hands of the user in the supine position.

Description

Abdominal exercise equipment

[0001] The present disclosure relates to abdominal exercise equipment.

[0002] As a conventional exercise for strengthening abdominal muscles, abdominal exercises in which the upper body is raised from a supine position are known. Japanese Patent Publication No. 6349600 describes a device that the user places behind the neck during abdominal exercises.

[0003] This device is secured behind the neck when the belt is pulled forward, thus reducing strain on the neck during abdominal exercises.

[0004] With the above-mentioned devices, it is difficult to perform abdominal exercises in the correct posture with the back bent and the abdominal muscles contracted. As a result, it is difficult to effectively train the abdominal muscles. For this reason, there is a demand for abdominal exercise devices that can effectively train the abdominal muscles.

[0005] The abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment addresses the above-mentioned situation and aims to provide an abdominal muscle exercise device that can effectively train abdominal muscles.

[0006] The abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment includes a main body on which the buttocks of a user in a supine position are placed, and a gripping portion that is connected to the main body and can be held by the user in a supine position.

[0007] With the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment, the user places their buttocks on the main body and grips the gripping portion with their hands while lying supine. In this position, when performing abdominal exercises by raising their upper body from a supine position, the user can maintain a posture that puts stress on their abdominal muscles. This allows the user to effectively train their abdominal muscles.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a user using an abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment. The cross-section is taken along line A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment. The cross-section is taken along line B-B in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a rear view showing the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment.

[0009] A preferred example of this embodiment is described below. [1] The abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment includes a main body on which the buttocks of a supine user are placed, and a gripping portion to be held by the supine user, the gripping portion being connected to the main body and capable of being held by the hand of the supine user. With this configuration, the user lies supine with the buttocks placed on the main body and simultaneously grips the gripping portion with the hand. Then, when performing abdominal exercises to raise the upper body from the supine position, the user can maintain a posture that applies stress to the abdominal muscles. This allows the user to effectively train their abdominal muscles. [2] The abdominal muscle exercise device described in [1] above may be provided with a pair of gripping portions, one of which is connected to the left side of the main body and the other of which is connected to the right side of the main body, and a gap may be provided between the gripping portions to allow the neck of a supine user to be positioned therebetween. With this configuration, when performing abdominal exercises to raise the upper body from a supine position, the user's neck can be prevented from being pressed by the gripping portion. This reduces the strain on the user's neck. [3] In the abdominal exercise device described in [1] or [2] above, the main body may include a back rest on which the back of the supine-positioned user rests, the gripping portion may be connected to the back resting portion, and the back resting portion may be displaceable along the upper body as the user rises from the supine position. With this configuration, the user pulls the gripping portion to rise from the supine position together with the back resting portion. This allows abdominal exercises to be performed in the correct posture with the back rounded. [4] In the abdominal exercise device described in [3] above, the upper surface of the back resting portion may include a peak and a sloped portion that slopes downward from the peak toward the opposite side from the buttocks resting portion. With this configuration, the back of a user in a supine position is positioned at a higher position at the top. At the same time, the user's back is positioned from the top toward a lower position toward the shoulders. Therefore, when raising the upper body from a supine position, the user can start abdominal exercises with their abdominal muscles more stretched. [5] In the abdominal exercise device described in [3] or [4] above, the back support portion may include side portions.In this case, the side portions protrude upward at the right and left ends of the back rest portion relative to the center of the back rest portion in the lateral direction. With this configuration, the body of a user in a supine position is less likely to shift left and right relative to the main body portion. Therefore, the user is less likely to lose balance when maintaining a posture that puts stress on the abdominal muscles. [6] In the abdominal muscle exercise device described in any of [3] to [5] above, the length of the back rest portion in the front-to-back direction may be smaller than the length of the user's back, and the end of the back rest portion facing the buttocks rest portion may be located closer to the buttocks rest portion than the shoulders of the supine user. With this configuration, the user's neck can be prevented from being pressed by the main body portion when performing abdominal exercises to raise the upper body from a supine position. This reduces the strain on the user's neck.

[0010] <Abdominal Muscle Exercise Device According to the Present Embodiment> A specific example of the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to Figs. 1 to 8. As shown in Fig. 1, an abdominal muscle exercise device 10 according to the present embodiment is placed on the floor when used for abdominal exercises. A user lies face-up on the upper surface of the abdominal muscle exercise device 10 placed on the floor and performs abdominal exercises. By using the abdominal muscle exercise device 10, the user can effectively train their abdominal muscles.

[0011] In the following description, the upper side of each component of the abdominal muscle exercise device 10 placed on the floor will be referred to as the upper side, and the lower side will be referred to as the lower side. Furthermore, the side on which the feet of a user lying on their back on the abdominal muscle exercise device 10 are placed will be referred to as the front side, and the side on which the head is placed will be referred to as the rear side. Furthermore, the right side will be referred to as the right side, and the left side will be referred to as the left side, as viewed from the user lying on their back on the abdominal muscle exercise device 10. In each drawing, the positive X-axis direction indicates the forward direction, the negative X-axis direction indicates the rearward direction, the positive Y-axis direction indicates the leftward direction, the negative Y-axis direction indicates the rightward direction, the positive Z-axis direction indicates the upward direction, and the negative Z-axis direction indicates the downward direction.

[0012] As shown in Figure 2, the abdominal muscle exercise device 10 includes a main body 20 and a grip 50. The main body 20 has a plate-like shape that extends in the front-to-rear direction. The main body 20 is made of a material that is difficult to stretch and is easy to bend. The grip 50 is connected to the rear end of the main body 20.

[0013] As shown in Figure 3, the main body 20 has constricted portions 21 on both the left and right sides. As a result, the left-right width of the main body 20 is narrowed at the center in the front-to-rear direction. The left-right dimension of the rear end of the main body 20 is greater than the left-right dimension of the front end of the main body 20. The constricted portions 21 allow the user to align the left and right side portions 27 (described below) with the body. This reduces left-to-right shifting of the user's body.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 4 , the main body 20 includes a buttocks support portion 22 and a back support portion 23. The buttocks of a user in a supine position are supported on the buttocks support portion 22. The back of a user in a supine position is supported on the back support portion 23. The front-to-back length of the main body 20 is smaller than the length from the user's hips to the shoulders, based on the body shape of a standard Japanese adult. The front-to-back length of the back support portion 23 is smaller than the length of the user's back, based on the body shape of a standard Japanese adult. The front-to-back length of the back support portion 23 is larger than the front-to-back length of the buttocks support portion 22. The rear end of the main body 20 is located forward of the shoulders of a user in a supine position. The underside of the main body 20 is flat.

[0015] The buttocks resting portion 22 has a plate-like shape. The thickness of the buttocks resting portion 22 is generally constant throughout. The left-right dimension of the buttocks resting portion 22 decreases from the rear side to the front side (see FIG. 3 ).

[0016] The back support portion 23 includes a first portion 23F and a second portion 23S. The first portion 23F is the front portion of the back support portion 23. The constricted portion 21 is provided in the first portion 23F (see FIG. 3). The lumbar region of a user in a supine position is placed on the first portion 23F. The second portion 23S is the rear portion of the back support portion 23. The portion of the back of a user in a supine position that is closer to the head than the lumbar region is placed on the second portion 23S.

[0017] The thickness of the first section 23F is greater than the thickness of the buttocks resting section 22 and the thickness of the second section 23S. The thickness of the second section 23S is equal to the thickness of the buttocks resting section 22. Here, the thickness refers to the vertical dimension of the abdominal exercise device 10 placed on the floor.

[0018] The rigidity of the first section 23F is higher than the rigidity of the buttocks placement section 22 and the rigidity of the second section 23S. Therefore, when the abdominal muscle exercise device 10 is placed on the floor, the first section 23F is less likely to bend upward than the buttocks placement section 22 and the second section 23S. On the other hand, the main body section 20 is more likely to bend upward from the boundary section 24 between the first section 23F and the buttocks placement section 22. Furthermore, the main body section 20 is more likely to bend upward from the boundary section 25 between the second section 23S and the first section 23F.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5 , the first portion 23F includes a central portion 26 and side portions 27. The side portions 27 are provided at the right and left ends of the first portion 23F. The side portions 27 protrude upward relative to the central portion 26. The inner surfaces 28 of the side portions 27 slope downward from vertices 29 of the side portions 27 toward the central portion 26. The vertices 29 of the side portions 27 are the uppermost ends of the side portions 27 in the YZ cross section. That is, the vertices 29 of the side portions 27 are located at both left and right ends of the top surface of the first portion 23F in the YZ cross section. The outer surfaces 31 of the first portion 23F slope downward from the vertices 29 of the side portions 27 toward the center in the left-right direction.

[0020] As shown in Figure 4, the central portion 26 of the first portion 23F has an upwardly bulging mountain-like shape in the XZ cross section. The upper surface of the central portion 26 includes an apex 32 and an inclined portion 33. The inclined portions 33 are provided in front of and behind the apex 32. The apex 32 is located at the center of the first portion 23F in the front-to-rear direction. The inclined portions 33 gently curve downward from the apex 32 toward the front and rear.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 6, the side portions 27 have an upwardly bulging mountain-like shape in a side view. The apexes 29 of the side portions 27 are located slightly above the upper surface of the central portion 26 (see Figs. 4 and 5). The apexes 29 of the side portions 27 gently curve downward from the center in the front-to-rear direction toward the front and rear along the inner surfaces 28 of the side portions 27. As shown in Fig. 7, when viewed from the front, the apexes 29 of the side portions 27 are inclined downward from the uppermost position so that they are gradually positioned outward in the left-to-right direction.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3 , the main body 20 is provided with a pair of gripping portions 50. Specifically, one of the pair of gripping portions 50 is connected to the left side of the main body 20. The other gripping portion 50 is connected to the right side of the main body 20. The left and right gripping portions 50 are held with both hands of a user in a supine position (see FIG. 1 ). The gripping portions 50 include an extension portion 51 and a gripping portion 52. The extension portion 51 is formed from a material that is difficult to stretch and easy to bend. The extension portion 51 may be, for example, a rope. The gripping portion 50 is connected to the main body 20 at one of both ends in the extension direction of the extension portion 51. A connecting portion 53 connecting the gripping portion 50 to the main body 20 is attached to the rear end of the second portion 23S.

[0023] The connecting portions 53 are located at the rear end of the second portion 23S on the right and left sides of the neck of a user in a supine position (see FIGS. 1 and 4). In this way, a gap is provided between the left and right extension portions 51 so that the neck of a user in a supine position can be positioned.

[0024] The gripping portion 52 is provided at the other end of the extension portion 51 in the extension direction, facing the connecting portion 53. As shown in Fig. 1, the gripping portion 52 is grasped by the palm and fingers of the user. The cross section of the gripping portion 52 perpendicular to the extension direction of the extension portion 51 has a circular shape (see Fig. 8). The gripping portion 52 is configured to fit easily in the palm of the user's hand.

[0025] Next, an example of how to use the abdominal muscle exercise device 10 for abdominal muscle exercises will be described. As shown in FIG. 4 , a user lies on their back on the abdominal muscle exercise device 10 placed on the floor, with their buttocks resting on the buttocks resting section 22. By resting their buttocks on the buttocks resting section 22, pain in the buttocks can be reduced. The lower back of a user in a supine position is positioned above the first section 23F. The shoulders of a user in a supine position are positioned lower than the lower back on their back. The neck of a user in a supine position is positioned between the left and right extension sections 51.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, a user in a supine position bends their arms while grasping the left and right gripping portions 52 with both hands. At this time, the user's upper arms extend forward from the shoulders, while their forearms extend upward from the elbows. In this way, the user's hands are positioned forward of their shoulders.

[0027] Next, the user begins abdominal exercises. As shown in FIG. 4 , in the supine position, the user's upper body is tilted downward from the waist to the shoulders. As a result, the abdominal muscles are stretched more when raising the upper body from the supine position than when the upper body is horizontal from the waist to the shoulders in the supine position. As shown in FIG. 1 , the user grasps the gripping portion 52 and raises the upper body while pulling the extension portion 51 toward the front of the user. By using the abdominal exercise device 10, the user can maintain a posture that puts stress on the abdominal muscles.

[0028] During abdominal exercises, as shown in FIG. 1 , the left and right extensions 51 extend forward from the user's shoulders along the back of the user's shoulders on both the left and right sides of the user's neck. When the user attempts to raise their upper body, the main body 20 bends at the boundaries 24 and 25. The back support 23 attempts to move upward together with the upper body to support the back of the supine user. At this time, the main body 20 is pressed against the floor by the user's buttocks. This prevents the main body 20 from shifting relative to the user's body. In other words, the buttock support 22 restricts the up-down shift of the back support 23. In this state, the back support 23 is positioned below and behind the user's upper body. As a result, a difference occurs between the amount of displacement of the back support 23 and the amount of displacement of the user's upper body. Therefore, when the user's upper body is raised to a flexion angle that places a high load on the abdominal muscles, it becomes difficult for the user to lift the upper body any further. This allows the user to maintain the upper body at a flexion angle that places a high load on the abdominal muscles. Even when the user's upper body is only slightly raised from a supine position, isometric contraction occurs in the abdominal muscles. Therefore, the user can effectively train their abdominal muscles.

[0029] The user can train their body by lifting their upper body to a flexion angle that places a high load on the abdominal muscles and maintaining that position. Alternatively, the user can train their body by continuously repeating the exercise of lifting their upper body to a flexion angle that places a high load on the abdominal muscles. The left and right side portions 27 make it difficult for the user's body to shift left and right. This makes it difficult for the user to lose balance when maintaining the posture for abdominal exercises. The user may also perform abdominal exercises by holding one of the left and right grip portions 50 with one hand. In this case, the user can stimulate not only the rectus abdominis but also the oblique abdominal muscles.

[0030] Next, the operation and effects of the abdominal muscle exercise device according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described. The abdominal muscle exercise device 10 includes a main body 20 and a gripping portion 50. A user in a supine position places their buttocks on the main body 20. The gripping portion 50 is gripped by the user in a supine position. The gripping portion 50 is connected to the main body 20 and can be held by the user in a supine position. With this configuration, before starting abdominal exercises, the user lies in a supine position with their buttocks placed on the main body 20 and grips the gripping portion 50 with both hands. Therefore, during abdominal exercises, the user can maintain a posture that puts stress on their abdominal muscles. This allows the user to effectively train their abdominal muscles.

[0031] A pair of gripping parts 50 are provided on the left and right sides of the main body 20. A gap is provided between the left and right gripping parts 50 to allow the neck of a user in a supine position to be positioned therebetween. With this configuration, the user's neck can be prevented from being pressed by the gripping parts 50 when performing abdominal exercises to raise the upper body from a supine position. This reduces the strain on the user's neck.

[0032] The main body 20 includes a back support portion 23 on which the back of a supine user rests. The grip portion 50 is connected to the back support portion 23 of the main body 20. The back support portion 23 can be displaced along with the upper body as the user in the supine position stands up. With this configuration, the user pulls the extension portion 51 of the grip portion 50 to stand up from the supine position together with the back support portion 23. This allows abdominal exercises to be performed in the correct posture with the back rounded.

[0033] The upper surface of the back support portion 23 includes a top portion 32 and an inclined portion 33 that slopes downward from the top portion 32 to the rear. With this configuration, the back of a user in a supine position is positioned higher at the top portion 32. At the same time, the user's back is positioned lower from the top portion 32 toward the shoulders. Therefore, when performing abdominal exercises to raise the upper body from a supine position, the user can start the exercise with their abdominal muscles fully stretched.

[0034] The back support portion 23 includes left and right side portions 27 that protrude upward from the center portion 26. With this configuration, the body of a user in a supine position is less likely to shift left and right relative to the main body portion 20. Therefore, when maintaining a posture that puts strain on the abdominal muscles, the body is less likely to shift left and right.

[0035] The length of the back support portion 23 is smaller than the length of the user's back. The rear end of the back support portion 23 is located forward of the shoulders of a user in a supine position. This configuration prevents the user's neck from being pressed by the main body portion 20 when performing abdominal exercises to raise the upper body from a supine position. This reduces the strain on the user's neck.

[0036] Other Examples This embodiment is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also within the technical scope of this embodiment. (1) In the above embodiment, the main body 20 is provided with a pair of gripping portions 50. Specifically, one of the pair of gripping portions 50 is connected to the left side of the main body 20. The other gripping portion 50 is connected to the right side of the main body 20. However, this is not limited to this, and only one gripping portion may be provided. In this case, the user can hold one gripping portion with both hands. In this case, one gripping portion may be connected to the main body at the center in the left-right direction of the main body. Furthermore, a ring-shaped gripping portion may be formed by fixing both ends of a single rope to both left and right ends of the main body. (2) In the above embodiment, the gripping portion 50 includes the extension portion 51 and the gripping portion 52. This is not limited to this, and the gripping portion may include only the gripping portion. In this case, for example, ring-shaped gripping portions may be provided directly on both left and right ends of the rear end of the main body portion. (3) In the above-described embodiment, the back support portion 23 includes left and right side portions 27. Alternatively, the upper surface of the back support portion may be horizontal in the left-right direction. (4) In the above-described embodiment, the left and right side portions 27 are provided on the first portion 23F. Alternatively, the left and right side portions may be provided on either the second portion or the buttocks support portion. (5) In the above-described embodiment, the main body portion 20 includes the back support portion 23. Alternatively, the main body portion may include only the buttocks support portion. In this case, the gripping portion may be connected to the buttocks support portion. (6) In the above-described embodiment, the upper surface of the back support portion 23 includes the peak portion 32 and the inclined portion 33. Alternatively, the upper surface of the back support portion may be horizontal in the front-rear direction. (7) In the above-described embodiment, the back rest portion 23 has rigidity that makes it less likely to bend upward than the buttock rest portion 22. Alternatively, the back rest portion and the buttock rest portion may have the same degree of flexibility. (8) In the above-described embodiment, the flexibility of the back rest portion and the buttock rest portion depends on the thickness of the back rest portion and the buttock rest portion. Alternatively, the flexibility of the back rest portion and the buttock rest portion may depend on the properties of the material of the back rest portion and the buttock rest portion.(9) Using the abdominal muscle exercise device 10 described in the above embodiment, an assistant other than the user may lift the grip portion 50 to assist the user in performing abdominal muscle exercises while the user contracts their abdominal muscles. (10) In the above embodiment, the cross-section of the grip portion 52 perpendicular to the extension direction of the extension portion 51 is circular. The grip portion may have any shape that provides a gripping surface for the hand when pulled (the grip portion serves as a stopper). (11) In the above embodiment, the grip portion 50 is provided at the rear end of the main body 20. Alternatively, the grip portion may be provided on both the left and right sides of the main body 20. In this case, the grip portion may be provided at any position on either the left or right side of the main body 20. If the main body 20 consists only of a buttocks support portion, the grip portion may be provided on both the left and right sides of the buttocks support portion.

[0037] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 abdominal muscle exercise device 20 main body 23 back rest 26 center 27 side 32 top 33 inclined portion 50 grip

Claims

1. An abdominal muscle exercise device comprising a main body portion on which the buttocks of a user in a supine position are placed, and a gripping portion that is gripped by the user in the supine position, wherein the gripping portion is connected to the main body portion and can be gripped by the hand of a user in the supine position.

2. A pair of the gripping portions are provided, one of the pair of gripping portions is connected to the left side portion of the main body portion, the other gripping portion is connected to the right side portion of the main body portion, and a space is provided between the gripping portions in which the neck of a user in the supine position can be placed. The abdominal muscle exercise device according to claim 1.

3. The main body portion includes a back placement portion on which the back of the user in the supine position is placed, the gripping portion is connected to the back placement portion, and the back placement portion is displaceable along the upper body as the upper body of the user in the supine position rises. The abdominal muscle exercise device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The upper surface of the back placement portion includes a top portion and an inclined portion that descends from the top portion toward the side opposite to the buttock placement portion. The abdominal muscle exercise device according to claim 3.

5. The back placement portion includes side portions, and the side portions protrude upward from the central portion in the left-right direction of the back placement portion at each of the right and left ends of the back placement portion. The abdominal muscle exercise device according to claim 3.

6. The length dimension of the back placement portion in the front-rear direction is smaller than the length dimension of the user's back, and the end of the back placement portion facing the buttock placement portion is closer to the buttock placement portion than the shoulders of the user in the supine position. The abdominal muscle exercise device according to claim 3.

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