ABDOMINAL EXERCISING DEVICE
An abdominal exercising device is disclosed that includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are coupled to a first end and a second end, respectively, of an elongated member. The elongated member is configured to retain at least a first end of a resistive member. The first portion and the second portion each substantially contact a portion of a user's legs such that the user experiences a resistive force in a group of abdominal muscles when the user moves his/her legs causing the resistive member to stretch. The abdominal muscles remain engaged throughout the use of the abdominal exercising device.
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The present invention generally relates to the field of fitness equipment, and more particularly relates to an abdominal exercising device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional fitness equipment directed at exercising the abdominal muscles is either very bulky or only targets a select group of abdominal muscles. For example, the equipment found at fitness centers that targets the abdominal muscles is generally large and cumbersome or too expensive for an average individual to purchase for his/her home. Also, some of the commercial abdominal strengthening equipment may be too difficult for disabled, injured, or elderly people to use effectively.
Home fitness equipment for the abdominal muscles can also be cumbersome and require a decent amount of storage space. This equipment is generally not portable and in some situations only targets a select group of abdominal muscles. Also, many of the consumer based abdominal exercising devices provide a limited amount of resistance that cannot be upgraded. Therefore, when a user peaks at the device's most resistive setting the user is unable to upgrade the device to obtain a greater degree of resistance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, an abdominal exercising device is disclosed. The abdominal exercising device comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are coupled to a first end and a second end, respectively, of an elongated member. The elongated member is configured to retain at least a first end of a resistive member. The first portion and the second portion each substantially contact a portion of a user's legs such that the user experiences a resistive force in a group of abdominal muscles when the user moves the user's legs causing the resistive member to stretch.
In another embodiment, another abdominal exercising device is disclosed. The abdominal exercising device comprises a first portion comprising a first elongated member and a second portion comprising a second elongated member. A first end of the first elongated member is coupled to a first end of the second elongated member. The elongated member comprises at least one adjustable portion At least one of the first elongated member and the second elongated member is configured to retain at least a first end of a resistive member. The first portion and the second portion each substantially contact a portion of a user's legs such that the user experiences a resistive force in a group of abdominal muscles when the user moves the user's legs causing the resistive member to stretch.
In yet another one embodiment, an abdominal exercising device is disclosed. The abdominal exercising device comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are coupled to a first end and a second end, respectively, of an elongated member. The elongated member is configured to retain at least a first end of a resistive member. The first portion and the second portion each substantially contact a portion of a user's legs such that the user experiences a resistive force in a group of abdominal muscles when the user moves the user's legs causing the resistive member to stretch.
The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention, in which:
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
Various embodiments of the present invention are advantageous over conventional abdominal exercising device for at least the following reasons. Most conventional devices require a “pushing” motion (e.g., pushing head/neck back) to create resistance on the abdominal muscles. One or more embodiments of the present invention, however, incorporate a “pulling” motion (e.g., pulling legs up). By stabilizing the legs with the device of the presently claimed invention the lower abdominal muscles are always engaged (a key difference to most devices). Pulling the legs in an upward motion and the reverse crunch motion are just two exercises that only work the lower abdominal muscles exclusively. However, there are numerous upper abdominal exercises and oblique exercises that are optimized or become more complete when the lower abdominal muscles are engaged at the same time as provided by various embodiments of the present invention. In other words, the abdominal muscles are continually engaged while a user is exercising with the device of various embodiments of the present invention.
Abdominal Exercising Device
According to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, each of the first and second portions 102, 104 comprises a plurality 108, 110 of retention adjustment slots 112, 114 situated on a front portion 116, 118 of each of the first and second portions 102, 104 and extending through to a back portion 120, 122 of the first and second portions 102, 104. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to slots and other mechanisms such as clips, other various fastening members, and/or the like can be situated on the first and second portions 102, 104 as well. Also, these retention members 112, 114 are not required to extend through the front 116, 118 and back portions 120, 122 of the first and second portions 102, 104. For example, the retention areas 112, 114 can extend partially through the front 116, 118 and/or back 120, 122 portions or only extend through the front portion 116, 118 or back portion 120, 122.
The retention adjustment slots 114, 116 are configured to receive a retention member 224 such as a strap, resilient member, rope, or the like as shown in
By having a plurality 110, 112 of retention adjustment slots 114, 116 the retention member 224 is able to securely retain the device 100 on various users. In one embodiment, at least one end portion 226, 228 of the retention member 224 can be inserted into one or more of the retention adjustment slots 114, 116 thereby creating a loop configuration that can be tightened around the legs of a user. It should also be noted that the first and second portions 102, 104 can be configured to contour the user's legs. This allows the device 100 to rest more securely on the user's legs and provides additional comfort for the user.
In one embodiment, each of the first and second portions 102, 104 comprise a receiving portion 130, 132 situated on an inner side 134, 136. When the abdominal exercising device 100 is assembled, the inner sides 134, 136 of the first and second portions 102, 104 face each other, but can also be situated in different configurations as well. The receiving portions 130, 132 are configured to receive a first end 338 and a second end 340, respectively, of the elongated member 106 as shown in
Alternatively, each of the first and second portions 102, 104 can comprise an elongated member 606, 607, as shown in
Once the engaging end 611 is inserted to and received by the receiving end 609, the first and second elongated members are securably and detachably coupled to each other. For example,
In addition, the elongated member 106 can be collapsible/pivotable as shown in
Returning to
The retention members 824, 825 securely hold the first and second portions 102, 104 against the thighs of the user. The retention members 824, 825 can be inserted into the retention adjustment slots 114, 116 similar to that discussed above to accommodate users of different sizes. For example, some users may be smaller or larger in size than other users. As can be seen from
It should also be noted that in the example given above, the user can place the first and second portions 102, 104 behind his/her thighs and place the retention member 824, 825 around the front of his/her thighs. However, a user can also place each of the first and second portions 102, 104 on the front portion of his/her thighs and can place the retention member 824, 825 around the back of his/her thighs. In this embodiment, the first and second portions 102, 104 can high have larger dimension such that at least one side end of the first and second portions 102, 104 extends beyond the user's thighs. The resistive members 846, 847 can then be coupled to these extended side ends.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An abdominal exercising device comprising:
- a first portion;
- a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are coupled to a first end and a second end, respectively, of an elongated member,
- wherein the elongated member is configured to retain at least a first end of a resistive member, and
- wherein the first portion and the second portion each substantially contact a portion of a user's legs such that the user experiences a resistive force in a group of abdominal muscles when the user moves the user's legs causing the resistive member to stretch.
2. The abdominal exercising device of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are detachably coupled to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the elongated member.
3. The abdominal exercising device of claim 1, wherein the resistive member comprises a second end retainable by an object.
4. The abdominal exercising device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a plurality of adjustment slots situated on each of the first portion and the second portion extending through a front portion to a back portion of each of the first and second portions, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment slots are adapted to receive at least one end of a retention member.
5. The abdominal exercising device of claim 4, wherein the retention member is adjustable such that when placed around the user's legs, the first portion and the second portion are secured to the user's legs.
6. The abdominal exercising device of claim 1, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprise a cushioning material situated on the back portion of the first and second portions.
7. The abdominal exercising device of claim 1, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion is substantially contoured according to a general shape of a human thigh.
8. An abdominal exercising device comprising:
- a first portion comprising a first elongated member;
- a second portion comprising a second elongated member,
- wherein a first end of the first elongated member is coupled to a first end of the second elongated member,
- wherein at least one of the first elongated member and the second elongated member is configured to retain at least a first end of a resistive member, and
- wherein the first portion and the second portion each substantially contact a portion of a user's legs such that the user experiences a resistive force in a group of abdominal muscles when the user moves the user's legs causing the resistive member to stretch.
9. The abdominal exercising device of claim 8, wherein the first portion is detachably coupled to the first elongated member and the second portion is detachably coupled to the second elongated member.
10. The abdominal exercising device of claim 8, wherein the first end of the first elongated member is detachably coupled to the first end of the second elongated member.
11. The abdominal exercising device of claim 8, further comprising:
- a plurality of adjustment slots situated on each of the first portion and the second portion extending through a front portion to a back portion of each of the first and second portions, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment slots are adapted to receive at least one end of a retention member.
12. The abdominal exercising device of claim 11, wherein the retention member is adjustable such that when placed around the user's legs, the first portion and the second portion are secured to the user's legs.
13. The abdominal exercising device of claim 8, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprise a cushioning material situated on the back portion of the first and second portions.
14. The abdominal exercising device of claim 8, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion is substantially contoured according to a general shape of a human thigh.
15. An abdominal exercising device comprising:
- a first portion;
- a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are coupled to a first end and a second end, respectively, of an elongated member,
- wherein the elongated member comprises at least one adjustable portion, and
- wherein the elongated member is configured to retain at least a first end of a resistive member, and
- wherein the first portion and the second portion each substantially contact a portion of a user's legs such that the user experiences a resistive force in a group of abdominal muscles when the user moves the user's legs causing the resistive member to stretch.
16. The abdominal exercising device of claim 15, wherein the first portion and the second portion are detachably coupled to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the elongated member.
17. The abdominal exercising device of claim 15, further comprising:
- a plurality of adjustment slots situated on each of the first portion and the second portion extending through a front portion to a back portion of each of the first and second portions, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment slots are adapted to receive at least one end of a retention member.
18. The abdominal exercising device of claim 17, wherein the retention member is adjustable such that when placed around the user's legs, the first portion and the second portion are secured to the user's legs.
19. The abdominal exercising device of claim 15, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprise a cushioning material situated on the back portion of the first and second portions.
20. The abdominal exercising device of claim 15, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion is substantially contoured according to a general shape of a human thigh.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 11, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 16, 2010
Applicant: Visionary Innovations, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL)
Inventor: SCOTT P. SHAFFER (Boca Raton, FL)
Application Number: 12/722,030