LOWER ABDOMINAL EXERCISE APPARATUS WITH FREESTANDING KNEE-RAISE STAND
The current invention is an exercise apparatus that relates to the field of exercise. The apparatus is a freestanding machine with the primary purpose of exercising the lower abdominal muscles, although other muscle groups may be exercised secondarily. The primary muscles targeted include the rectus abdominis and the tendinous inscriptions. The following muscles may be exercised secondarily while either engaged in lower abdominal exercises or while performing exercises specific to each muscle group: the tensor fasciae, rectus femoris and the vastus lateralis; the biceps femoris, adductor magnus, semitendinosus gracillis and semimembranosus; the gluteus medialis and the gluteus maximus; thoracolumbar fascia and the erector spinae, triceps brachii.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention, the lower abdominal exercise apparatus with freestanding knee-raise stand is an exercise apparatus that is to be used when strengthening the abdominal muscles. However, whereas many inventions focus on targeting the abdominal muscles as a whole, the current invention focuses on targeting the lower portion of the rectus abdominis and the obliquus internus. The current invention provides the maximum amount of resistance to the lower portion of the rectus abdominis and the obliquus internus during each repetition performed. Exercising the lower portion of the abdominal muscles is the primary application of this invention. Therefore, the invention applies to the field of exercise. Further, the present invention presents novel features leading to a toned abdominal musculature.
2. Description of Related Art
There are countless machines and apparatuses out there to assist in strengthening the body and all of its muscle groups. Sebastian (U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,720) discusses the importance of strong abdominals and their direct affect on an individual's “core.” Furthermore, he dissects the term “abdominals” and concludes the term references many different muscle groups including the obliquus internus, transversus abdominis, the rectus abdominis, and the pyramidalis muscle. This invention focuses on targeting the lower regions of the rectus abdminis and the obliquus internus, although the transversus abdominis and the pyramidalis muscle may be exercised secondarily.
Stearns (U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,449) discusses the different types of abdominal exercisers. In his application, Stearns reports three distinct types of abdominal movement: the “crunch,” which consists of a back and forth motion of the upper torso while the user is seated in an upright position; the “sway,” which consists of the user lifting a selected weight while moving the upper torso from side to side, either in a seated upright or standing position; and the “twist,” which requires the user to twist the torso in order to lift the weights and exercise the outer abdominal region. Each method described by Stearns targets a specific region of the abdominals. The crunch method is used when targeting the upper, inner and outer regions of the rectus abdominis, thus, the lower portion of the abdominal region is targeted minimally. The sway and twist methods are used to target the inner and outer oblique muscles, thus, once again, leaving the lower abdominal region to be targeted minimally and secondarily.
Durfee (U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,643 B2) discusses the trend within the United States and the dollar amount spent on the desire to obtain a toned midsection. Durfee claims that the U.S. alone spends hundreds of millions of dollars on home exercise equipment, and that number is much larger when including commercial health and fitness club equipment.
VanDerHoeven (U.S. Pat. No. 4, 848,740) discusses the issues with regular sit-ups. Discussed are the countless number of hours and repetitions required to successfully obtain a toned abdominal musculature from simply performing sit-ups alone. VanDerHoeven claims they are ineffective when used alone because they only exercise a portion of the abdominal region and it requires a lot of time and dedication to obtain results.
The abdominal muscles as a whole are essential to an individual's core strength and one's overall health. Athletes and non-athletes alike must build a strong core in order to endure rigorous workouts involving weight training or to simply maintain good health. The current invention promotes weight loss, thus, improving the user's overall health and well-being. Previous apparatuses aimed at targeting the lower portion of the abdominal muscles are limited. Most apparatuses focus on the upper and middle areas of the abdominal muscles. The current invention primarily focuses on targeting the lower abdominal region, consequently, targeting the middle and upper regions of the abdominal muscles secondarily.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe lower abdominal exercise apparatus with freestanding knee-raise stand is an exercise apparatus aimed at targeting the lower portion of the rectus abdominis.
The user may choose to sit on a bench in a slightly crunched over position, ankles connected to a weight loaded ankle attachment attached to a pulley system, and engage in a crunching motion by bringing her/his knees to her/his chest. She/he may also choose to perform weighted lying leg raises on the bench while wearing the ankle attachment and raising her/his legs, thus exercising the lower region of the rectus abdominis. The user may also choose to use the freestanding knee-raise stand with or without using the weight loaded ankle attachment attached to the pulley system.
The present invention is comprised of many parts, all of which are necessary for it to function properly. The apparatus contains a bench that is permanently and securely fastened to the base, a freestanding knee-raise stand that is permanently and securely fastened to the base, a weight stack, a series of pulleys and a cable and an ankle attachment. The ankle attachment may be removed and swapped out for another attachment to do other exercises.
The base (
The bench pad (
On the bench there are two handles (
Attached to the base securely and permanently via weldment is a freestanding knee-raise stand (
Strategically placed 3′ away from and centered with the foot of the bench (
Each weight plate has 4 through and through holes, from top to bottom: 1 in the middle for the weight selector rod, 1 on either side of the weight selector rod hole for the guide rods, and 1 through and through hole, from the front of the plate to the back of the plate, that is perpendicular to and intercepts and continues through the center hole. The weight selector rod (
The weight selector pin (
The weight selector rod (
Surrounding the weight stack (
There are a total of 15 weight plates stacked on the weight stack, including the first weight plate, which is permanently attached to the weight selector rod. The first 5 weight plates are in 10 lb increments. Each plate thereafter comes in 15 lb increments. The 10 lb increments max out at 50 lbs before turning to 15 lb increments, which maxes the weight stack out at 200 lbs. The first weight plate is permanently attached to the cable and weight plate connector. Therefore, the lightest weight that may be selected is 10 lbs.
Just above the weight stack is a pulley (
The ankle attachment (
The cuff connector is made of two different materials: steel and nylon. The nylon portion (
The wire cable that is used to connect the weight stack from the cable and weight plate connector, through the pulleys, to the user is similar to the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 401,112 by T. C. Batchelor and A. Latch. Described and depicted in the application is a cable that consists of a straight wire and others wrapped around it. This type of wire cable is used. However, at the user's end there is a loop built in (
While other exercise benches allow users to use handles at the head of the bench to maintain their balance while performing certain exercises, the current invention does much more than just this. Such handles are usually in the center of the bench. The present invention has 2 handles near the head of the bench, however they are on either side of the bench pad. This location allows the user to stabilize her/his body better than the handles that are placed in the center at the head of the bench while in a lying position.
The current invention also features 2 handles, also on either side of the bench pad, located near the foot of the bench. These handles allow the user to balance her/himself while performing certain lower abdominal exercises while in a seated position. The handles are located 1′ from the foot of the bench, on either side of the pad.
Another novel feature of the current invention is the strategically placed weight stack, thus, allowing users to do a variety of lower abdominal exercises while using the additional resistance provided by weights while on a bench. In addition to the weight stack, the current invention also possesses a freestanding knee-raise stand that is positioned so it may be used with the weight stack if the user desires to do so.
Although the current invention is primarily used to strengthen the lower abdominals, the user may perform the following exercises and exercise the following muscles secondarily: standing leg curls (biceps femoris, semitendinosus gracillis and adductor magnus), standing one-legged leg kicks (vastus medialis, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis), bent over rows (latissimus dorsi, trapezius and thorocolumbar facscia), standing one-legged kickbacks (gluteus medius and gluteus maximus).
The present invention eliminates the need for a workout partner to push down on the user's ankles in order to create the desired resistance when targeting the lower abdominal muscles, while performing lying leg extensions. Furthermore, the present invention eliminates the need to use dumbbells, which are commonly used when looking to add resistance when performing knee-raises while using the freestanding knee-raise stand and knee-to-chest crunches while seated on a bench. By eliminating the need to use dumbbells for this additional resistance, the current invention greatly reduces the risk associated with performing weighted knee-raises and knee-to-chest crunches.
Claims
1. The invention is an exercise apparatus that contains the following:
- a. a flat bench;
- b. bench handles to assist the user with lying abdominal exercises;
- c. bench handles to assist the user with seated abdominal exercises;
- d. a freestanding knee-raise stand;
- e. a weight stack;
- f. a series of 3 pulleys;
- g. a cable with a loop at the user's end for attachments to be hooked to;
- h. an ankle attachment containing 2 ankle cuffs/heel supports and a connector;
2. The current invention is a self-standing exercise apparatus that eliminates the need for a partner when looking to perform certain lying abdominal exercises.
3. The current invention is a self-standing exercise apparatus that eliminates the need to use dumbbells when looking to perform certain seated abdominal exercises.
4. The current invention is a self-standing exercise apparatus that eliminates the need to use dumbbells when looking to perform certain knee-raise abdominal exercises with the freestanding knee-raise stand.
5. The invention is an exercise apparatus that targets the following muscles under secondary usages: the tensor fasciae, rectus femoris and the vastus lateralis; the biceps femoris, adductor magnus, semitendinosus gracillis and semimembranosus; the gluteus medialis and the gluteus maximus; thoracolumbar fascia and the erector spinae, triceps brachii (lateral head, medial head and long head).
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 17, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2014
Inventor: Howard Rapp (Armonk, NY)
Application Number: 13/716,354
International Classification: A63B 21/062 (20060101);