Bed Sit-Up Apparatus
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.
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 INVENTIONThe 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 INVENTIONTraditionally, 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.
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.
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.
As illustrated in
In the first preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
Claims
1. A bed sit-up apparatus comprises:
- a board;
- a strap;
- a sleeve;
- the board comprises a first strap slot, a second strap slot, a center handle hole, and a plurality of curved edges; and
- the strap comprises a first strap end, a second strap end, a first tri-glide slide and a plurality of stitches.
2. The bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the first strap slot traversing through the board; and
- the second strap slot traversing through the board.
3. The bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the center handle hole traversing through the board;
- the center handle hole being positioned centrally on the board; and
- the center handle hole being positioned between the first strap slot and the second strap slot.
4. The bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the strap being attached to the board via the first strap slot;
- the strap being attached to the board via the second strap slot;
- the strap traversing the first strap slot;
- the strap traversing the second strap slot;
- the strap being concentrically sheathed by the sleeve; and
- the first tri-glide slide being attached to the second strap end via the plurality of stitches.
5. The bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprises,
- the first strap end being attached to the second strap end via the first tri-glide slide.
6. The bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the plurality of curved edges being positioned perimetrically on the board.
7. A method of exercising by utilizing a bed sit-up apparatus comprises the steps of:
- a) positioning the board of the bed sit-up apparatus under a well-cushioned mat while leaving the strap exposed and accessible by the user;
- b) positioning the feet of the user under the strap until the strap is tightly bound around the feet of the user;
- c) the user lowering his or her upper body and back toward the ground without touching the ground; and
- d) the user utilizing his or her frontal abdominal muscles to elevate the upper body and the back toward the feet.
8. The method of exercising by utilizing the bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein step (b) includes adjusting the circumference or the length of the strap by sliding the first tri-glide slide along the length of the strap.
9. The method of exercising by utilizing the bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein step (d) includes utilizing oblique muscles and leg muscles in elevating the upper body and the back toward the feet.
10. The method of exercising by utilizing the bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 7 includes other exercise maneuvers such as side sit-ups and one-sided leg lifts.
11. A bed sit-up apparatus comprises:
- a board;
- a strap;
- a sleeve;
- the board comprises a first strap slot, a second strap slot, a center handle hole, and a plurality of curved edges;
- the strap comprises a first strap end, a second strap end, a first tri-glide slide and a plurality of stitches;
- the first strap slot traversing through the board;
- the second strap slot traversing through the board;
- the strap being attached to the board via the first strap slot;
- the strap being attached to the board via the second strap slot;
- the strap traversing the first strap slot;
- the strap traversing the second strap slot; and
- the first strap end being attached to the second strap end via the first tri-glide slide.
12. The bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 11 comprises,
- the center handle hole traversing through the board;
- the center handle hole being positioned centrally on the board; and
- the center handle hole being positioned between the first strap slot and the second strap slot.
13. The bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 11 comprises,
- the strap being concentrically sheathed by the sleeve; and
- the first tri-glide slide being attached to the second strap end via the plurality of stitches.
14. The bed sit-up apparatus as claimed in claim 11 comprises,
- the plurality of curved edges being positioned perimetrically on the board.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 23, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2012
Inventor: Jesse F. HOWARD (Lufkin, TX)
Application Number: 13/453,244