METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING ABDOMINAL MUSCLES

Abstract

An apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles of the human body is disclosed. The abdominal exercising apparatus comprises a long hollow metallic square tubing having three spaced stabilizing bars extending perpendicular from top to bottom to hold and stabilize the leg near the knee portion keeping the ankle and feet portion flat on the ground. The abdominal exercising apparatus at its bottom additionally comprises another tubing perpendicular to the main square tubing to hold standard size weights to be carried using the leg portion. In use, the abdominal exercise apparatus is held by the user's legs and attached securely to the bottom half of the user's legs to add weight to perform a routine leg assisted abs workout. The exercising apparatus builds stronger better looking abs without straining the user's back and neck and facilitates the performance of sit-up exercises for strengthening and toning abdominal muscles.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles. Specifically, this invention relates to an exercising apparatus provided with weights to perform the abdominal workout.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In the past there have been quite a variety of exercise apparatus available for exercising the abdominal muscles. One such apparatus includes an adjustable slant board with a pad for holding a user's feet in place while sit-ups and crunches are performed. Another abdominal exercise apparatus supports the upper half of a user's body while in a reclined position on the floor. This apparatus also has arm, head and neck pads for supporting a user's arms, head and neck respectively. This apparatus has curved rocker components in contact with the floor. To exercise the abdominal muscles, the user does regular abdominal crunches aided by the fact that the apparatus rocks back and forth. Also available are machines in which a user sits. Many of these apparatus have upper torso supporting means that include pads posterior the upper torso. Others have resistance pads anterior and adjacent the user's chest. The exerciser presses his chest forward and downward to move the pad and activate the resistance mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,591 discloses an abdominal exerciser including a leg rest assembly optionally pivotally connected to a weighted main frame. The leg rest assembly may include a first member and second and third members extending transversely from the first member. One or more pads may be affixed about the first member. The second and third members may terminate in a hinge member such as a female coupler. The main frame may include a plurality of curved members connected at an apex at a first end thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,873 provides an “Abdominal exercise apparatus and method”. An abdominal exercise apparatus includes a first cross bar positioned behind the user's ankles, a second cross bar positioned above and over the user's knees and a third cross bar positioned below the user's hips and behind the user's thighs. A rigid frame connects the centers of the three cross bars and maintains the cross bars in parallel. The first cross bar can be adapted to support weights. With the user on the user's back, the apparatus is held with the user's legs. The user raises and lowers the user's legs with the apparatus to exercise abdominal muscles.

All of the abdominal exercise apparatus mentioned here, and many, many not mentioned have one very important fault in common. The abdominal exercise movement rotates about an axis generally along a line passing through the user's body below and adjacent the sternum. The adjustable slant board has an axis adjacent the sternum plane. The conventional rocking apparatus has an axis adjacent the sternum plane. The seated apparatus with posterior torso support has an axis adjacent the sternum plane. One such apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,893 states in its claims that it has an object to accomplish exercising movement about an axis along a line passing through the user's body below and adjacent the sternum plane and other seated apparatus with resistance pads anterior and adjacent the exerciser's chest have the same general location of axis.

Simply stated, because the pivotable axis is near the sternum plane and the abdominal muscles near the sternum are the upper one-third of the abdominal wall. These upper abdominal muscles get the majority of the benefit because they do the majority of the work. The lower portions of the abdominal wall do not lengthen and shorten during abdominal exercise using prior art apparatus. This faulty axis can create an under-developed middle and lower abdominal wall regardless of how many dedicated hours the exerciser works. A further and very important negative result of the faulty axis of the prior art is its negative effect on the exerciser's posture. In other words, standing and lifting with middle back bent forward at the sternum plane. This described position is the very same position millions of people in our society get into. For millions of people the result is serious and permanent injury to their back by herniating discs. Lifting something heavy doesn't cause this kind of injury as long as healthful spine alignment is maintained during the lift. The injury results when the posture assumed during the lifting is bent forward at the middle back with shortened upper abdominals. Prior art apparatuses promote such posture.

In summary, the above mentioned apparatus of the prior art are far less than ideal because they fail to provide optimal development for middle abdominal muscles. Also, prior art apparatuses are less than ideal because the postural performance habit they promote in the exerciser's middle spine is the same one usually present wherein so many people injure their backs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles of the human body is disclosed. The abdominal exercising apparatus comprises a long hollow metallic square tubing having three spaced stabilizing bars extending perpendicular from top to bottom to hold and stabilize the leg near the knee portion keeping the ankle and feet portion flat on the ground. The abdominal exercising apparatus at its bottom additionally comprises another tubing perpendicular to the main square tubing to hold standard size weights to be carried using the leg portion. In use, the abdominal exercise apparatus is held by the user's legs and attached securely to the bottom half of the user's legs to add weight to perform a routine leg assisted abs workout. The exercising apparatus builds stronger better looking abs without straining the user's back and neck and facilitates the performance of sit-up exercises for strengthening and toning abdominal muscles. Additionally, the weights used with the abdominal exercising apparatus may be added or removed depending upon the user's requirement; and thus eliminates the need of picking up dumbbells and exercising balls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawing. It is appreciated that the drawing depicts only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transparent cut away perspective view of the bottom of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 for exercising the abdominal muscles; and

FIG. 3 is a cut away side view of the apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown and illustrated an apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles 10 in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles 10 comprises a 2″×2″ hollow square curved tubing 16 which in a preferred embodiment is a 36″ long hollow metallic tube having three spaced stabilizing bars 20, 22, 24, respectively, extending from top to bottom, wherein the bar 20 is utilized to hold and stabilize the leg near the knee portion (not shown); and the bars 22 and 24 stabilize the ankle and feet portions (not shown) flat on the ground. Each stabilizing bar 20, 22, 24, respectively, are ⅜″ thick and 15 inches long, made of metal having a soft and comfortable grip 12 at each end of bars 20, 22 and 24. The exercising apparatus 10 further includes a 2″ metal tubing 18 at the bottom to hold standard size weights 19. The abdominal exercising apparatus at its bottom additionally comprises another tubing 18 perpendicular to the main square tubing 16 to hold by a clamp 32 standard size weights 30 to be carried using the leg portion of the person exercising (not shown).

In use, the user will place the exercising apparatus 10 over their leg extending from knee to the feet and adjust and tighten it into place using the stabilizing and adjustment bars (20, 22 and 24). Next, the user begins by lying on their back, knees bent and together with feet flat on the floor. In this position the user now rotates their lower body in a back and forth movement as far as possible by performing a reverse abs crunch, bringing the users legs to their upper body. The user may use the exercising apparatus 10 with front leg raise whether it is hanging, bench, captain's chair, or lying on the floor methods as is known in the exercise arts. Accordingly, the user could use the exercising apparatus for: a) sitting down for leg extensions; b) turned around lying down for hamstring curls and/or c) adding weight to the pull-ups.

It should be understood that only a small area is needed to do the exercises wherein the apparatus requires a small storage area. A comparable workout with other equipment generally, requires the expense of more than one exercise machine and a large workout area. The user of this present invention does not have to be an athlete in order to tone and strengthen their body. The major exercises used with this exercising apparatus target the hard to reach areas of the user's body like the abdomen, waist line, inner and outer thighs and middle back. In another preferred embodiment, the added weight at the leg near the foot portion will help to stabilize the legs and keep the feet securely on the floor, while performing sit ups. This gives the user a more controlled workout. When properly used, the exercising apparatus of the present invention strengthens the abdomen, back and legs. Consequently, a user's posture and leg strength will improve. Although not specifically intended to reduce waist size, such a reduction often results with proper use. The present invention is used primarily to strengthen specific areas of the body for increased body “torque.”

In summary, an apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles of the human body is disclosed. The abdominal exercising apparatus comprises a long hollow metallic square tubing having three spaced stabilizing bars extending perpendicular from top to bottom to hold and stabilize the leg near the knee portion keeping the ankle and feet portion flat on the ground. The abdominal exercising apparatus at its bottom additionally comprises another tubing perpendicular to the main square tubing to hold standard size weights to be carried using the leg portion. In use, the abdominal exercise apparatus is held by the user's legs and attached securely to the bottom half of the user's legs to add weight to perform a routine leg assisted abs workout. The exercising apparatus builds stronger better looking abs without straining the user's back and neck and facilitates the performance of sit-up exercises for strengthening and toning abdominal muscles.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles using a user's leg, knee, ankle and feet, comprising:

a first long hollow metallic square tubing having three spaced stabilizing bars extending from top to bottom, wherein said first bar is utilized to hold and stabilize the leg near the knee portion and the said second and third bars stabilize the ankle and feet portion flat on the ground wherein said first metallic square tubing has at its bottom a second tubing perpendicular to said first square tubing to hold standard size weights.

2. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first tube is a 2″×2″ hollow square tubing that is 36″ long.

3. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said stabilizing bar is ⅜″ thick and 15 inches long.

4. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said stabilizing bar is made of metal having a soft and comfortable grip.

5. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exercising apparatus is held by the user's legs and attached securely to the bottom half of the user's legs to add weight to routine leg assisted abs workouts.

6. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exercising apparatus is utilized by adding and/or removing preferred weights depending upon user's requirement thereby eliminating the user's need of picking dumbbells and exercising balls.

7. A method for performing a user to perform abdominal exercises, comprising the following steps:

placing by the user an exercising apparatus over their leg extending from knee to their feet;

adjusting and tightening it into place using stabilizing and adjustment bars;

lying on their back, knees bent and together with feet flat on the floor; and

rotating their lower body in back and forth movement as far as possible by performing reverse abs crunch bringing their legs to the upper body.

8. A method for performing abdominal exercises as claimed in claim 7, wherein said method facilitates the performance of sit-up exercises for strengthening and toning abdominal muscles and results in building the stronger better looking abs without straining the user's back and neck.

9. A method for performing abdominal exercises as claimed in claim 7, wherein said method uses said exercising apparatus for: a) sitting down for leg extensions; b) turned around lying down for hamstring curls; c) adding weight to the pull-ups.